Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif.- The Whittier College Softball team played for a cause on Pink Day Saturday in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and capped off the day with a sweep over Cal Lutheran University 9-1 and 9-2.

Whittier sat a game behind Cal Lutheran going into the doubleheader but after the sweep have now bumped into sole possession of fourth place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings.

The Poets improve to 14-12, 6-8 SCIAC and following the twin bill avenged their previous sweep by the Regals back on February 20.     

Game 1 (W, 9-1)

The Poets only needed six innings to get through CLU in game one.  The Purple & Gold scored five runs in the first three innings and didn't look back.  Samantha Blum (San Jose, Calif.) earned the victory going a complete game giving up one run on five hits improving to 7-5.

The Poets got after CLU started Courtney Sooy bringing across three runs on two hits, while capitalizing on a costly error by the third baseman and a wild pitch.  Kacey Whitney (Cypress, Calif.) led off the inning with a single through the right side, Kaitlyn Garza (Chino, Calif.) was then hit by a pitch and both runners moved up after a wild pitch.

Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) then reached on an error by the third baseman and Sarah Crawford (San Diego, Calif.) then made them pay with a single through the right side that brought in one.  With two outs, Natalia Sanchez (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Lauren Gandi (Costa Mesa, Calif.) kept the inning going with walks that brought in a couple more but the rally would end after a Blum groundout into a double play.

In the second, Whittier again capitalized on a CLU miscue.  A dropped third strike would allow Ahern to reach first base with two outs allowing Whitney to score from third.                  

Then in the third, it was Sanchez again this time drilling a solo shot to left that moved the score to 5-0.

Blake Lewis got CLU on the scoreboard the very next inning with her own solo homerun but that would be the only offense generated against the Poet ace as another four runs in the fifth and sixth by WC would put the game out of reach.

Whitney continues to swing a hot bat finishing 2-4 with two runs scored.  Sanchez was 2-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in and Gandi was 2-2 with a run scored and two runs batted in.  

Game 2 (W, 9-2)

The Poets brought across a run in the first inning to get things started for the Purple & Gold.  Whitney led off the inning with a walk and was followed shortly after by Ahern who also drew a base on balls right before a Crawford double to right.

CLU tied the game up the very next inning but that would be the closest they would get as a four spot in the bottom half of the second by Whittier would put the game out of reach early. 

Gandi singled through the right side and moved over following a sacrifice bunt from Cat Manalo (Santa Ana, Calif.).  Ally Fonseca (Pico Rivera, Calif.) then doubled to right center that brought in one and Whitney and Ahern would then combo with a two run jack and a solo shot that made the score 5-1. 

In the third, Whittier added to their lead capitalizing on a throwing miscue.  Megan Heal (San Jose, Calif.) singled to the left side and after a throwing error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt by Sanchez, Heal was able to come all the way around to score.

The runs continued to pour in for the Purple & Gold in the fourth.  Garza reached on a single up the middle.  After catcher's interference, Ahern reached advancing Garza to second.  Crawford then singled to right center scoring one and Gandi would bring in the second reaching on a fielder's choice.

In the fifth, Crawford would reach for the third time this time on a fielder's choice scoring Garza and that would seal the deal for the Poets as they would come away with the sweep.

Crawford got the start going 4.0 innings giving up one unearned run on five hits as she improves to 4-1.  Rachel Alhanati (Lake Forest, Calif.) came in relief and threw 2.0 innings giving up one unearned run on two hits.

Ahern finished 2-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Gandi was 2-3 with a run scored and a run batted in and Whitney was 1-2 at the top with two runs scored and two runs batted in.      

Whittier returns to action this Friday, April 15 as they travel to Redlands to take on the Bulldogs with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.