Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team got back on track Saturday in a big sweep over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) rival Occidental College 8-4 and 6-3.

The wins extend a winning streak of three games as the Purple & Gold improve back to .500 at 11-11, 3-7 SCIAC, while moving into fifth place in the SCIAC Standings. 

Game 1 (W, 8-4)

In the bottom half of the first the Poets managed to bring across a run early.  Kacey Whitney (Cypress, Calif.) doubled to center to get things started.  Kaitlyn Garza (Cerritos, Calif.) then singled through the right side moving the runner and Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) singled down the right field line that plated the go ahead run.

In the third, Oxy scrapped for a couple runs to take a lead but it was short-lived as the Purple & Gold would put up a five spot in the bottom half of the inning sparked by a three run blast by Megan Heal (San Jose, Calif.) to center field.

This would open the game up and Whittier didn't look back as Sarah Crawford (San Diego, Calif.) would add a two-run homerun herself in the fourth sending the Poets to the game one victory.

Crawford along with her two run homerun picked up her third win on the season going 6.0 innings giving up just two earned runs on 10 hits, while Rachel Alhanati (Lake Forest, Calif.) collected her first save of the season.

Garza finished the game 2-2 with two runs scored and a run batted in.  Crawford was 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's and Madison Crimi-Demichele (San Jose, Calif.) was 2-3 with an RBI.        

Game 2 (W, 8-3)

Alhanati got the start in game two going a complete game giving up three runs on five hits. 

Ahern got into the homerun category in the bottom half of the first with her ninth of the season going yard to right center bringing in Garza. 

Alhanati continued to shut down the Oxy bats over six innings while the Purple & Gold would put up four runs in the sixth coming on four hits, while capitalizing on two errors.  This would be enough to secure the victory despite the Tigers bringing across three runs in the seventh.

Crimi-Demichele had another big game going 2-2 with a run scored.  Ahern was 1-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Natalia Sanchez (Chino Hills, Calif.) was 1-1 with a pinch hit single, a run scored and a run batted in.           

Whittier remains with their conference schedule this Saturday, April 2 when they travel to Claremont, Calif. for a doubleheader with Pomona-Pitzer with game times slated for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.