Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Softball team saw their offense stall in four games over the weekend dropping twin bills to both Redlands and La Verne.

Game 1 (Redlands; L, 8-1)

Under windy conditions at the Field of Dreams, the Bulldogs took control from start to finish allowing just one run over seven innings.  Whittier added their lone run in the top half of the first following a Sarah Crawford (San Diego, Calif.) double to left center that plated Kacey Whitney (Cypress, Calif.).

But UR would add eight runs over the next six innings, which included a four spot in the fifth that gave them the 8-1 victory.

Samantha Blum (San Jose, Calif.) was tagged with the loss going just 4.1 innings giving up four earned runs on five hits.  Whitney was the lone Poet with multiple hits finishing 2-3 with a run scored.          

Game 2 (Redlands; L, 10-0)

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bulldogs got after freshman Crawford getting seven runs against her on nine hits.  Whittier was also held scoreless for the third time this season and managed just four hits against Lindsey Mifsud.

The game was called after five innings as Redlands added seven runs in the first two innings before wrapping up the scoring with a three spot in the fourth.  

Game 1 (La Verne; L, 9-4)

Whittier came home and found a big match-up with La Verne challenging and despite finding their offense was unable to keep the high powered ULV offense off the base paths as they too would sweep the Purple & Gold at Palmer Field.

ULV struck early with a pair of runs in the first and second innings.  They extended their lead to 8-0 following a four spot in the fourth but would have to play the full seven after Whittier would fight back with two of their own in the fifth.

Whitney got things started with a single through the right side and was followed by a Kaitlyn Garza (Chino, Calif.) walk.  Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) was then hit by a pitch that loaded the bases and Crawford drove in one with a single up the middle.  The second run then came in after a fielder's choice allowing Natalia Sanchez (Chino Hills, Calif.) to score.

After another run came across for the Leopards in the sixth moving the score to 9-2, Whittier would bring across another two in the seventh mounting a rally with Ally Fonseca (Pico Rivera, Calif.) reaching on an error by the third baseman and Cat Manalo (Santa Ana, Calif.) doubling down the left field line but those would be the only runs that would come across as ULV would secure the win forcing a groundout.

Whitney finished the game 3-5 with a run scored and was joined by Crawford who was 3-4 with an RBI.  Blum picked up the loss dropping to 7-7 on the season after giving up six runs on eight hits.             

Game 2 (La Verne; L, 10-3)

After a two spot came across for ULV to start off game two, Whittier responded with three of their own in the bottom half of the frame off the bat of Ahern who blasted a three run shot scoring Garza and Whitney.

But those would be the only runs that came across as the Poet bats would be held silent over the next six innings, while the Leos would bring across another eight, which included four in the fourth on a grand slam by Alexis Schiff. 

Whitney was a perfect 3-3 with a run scored, while Ahern was 1-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in.  The loss was handed to Blum who dropped to 7-8 who relieved Rachel Alhanati (Lake Forest, Calif.).  Blum gave up just one earned run (seven unearned) on seven hits and struck out four.