Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Junior Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) continues to swing a hot bat for the Whittier College Softball team as she connected on two home runs over the four game stretch to lead the Purple & Gold to a split with both Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Lutheran University.
The Poets move back to .500 at 6-6, 4-2 SCIAC and sit in 3rd place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings.
Game 1 (Pomona-Pitzer - W, 8-2)
The Sagehens struck first with an early run and held that lead until the 4th when Whittier erupted for four runs on four hits. Sierra Rodriguez (Whittier, Calif.) picked up the first hit in the inning that loaded the bases and was followed by Ahern who singled through the left side, which brought in a pair. The very next batter Natalia Sanchez (Chino Hills, Calif.) singled up the middle bringing in another two that opened the game up.
Pomona-Pitzer added a run in the 6th to pull within two but that's as close as they would get as the Poets would put up another four spot in the bottom half of the inning that secured the win. The string of hits occurred with Kaitlyn Garza (Chino, Calif.) doubling to left center followed by a Rebecca Barber (El Monte, Calif.) single to center and an Ally Fonseca (Pico Rivera, Calif.) double to left.
Hayley Wishner (Chino, Calif.) got her first start and finished 2-4 scoring once, while Barber was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rodriguez was 1-3 scoring once and Garza was 1-2 with a run batted in and a run scored.
Samantha Blum (San Jose, Calif.) threw a complete game giving up two runs on seven hits, while striking out five picking up her third win on the season.
Game 2 (Pomona-Pitzer - L, 4-3)
A combined four runs were added in the first inning of the second game. Liz Rodarte hit a two run shot in the top half of the inning giving PP a 2-0 lead but Ahern would follow suit coming up in the Poets first at bats to connect for her own two run blast the evened the game.
In the third, the Sagehens would go deep for a second time to go in front 3-2 but again that lead wouldn't hold as Whittier would tack on another run in the 5th off the bat of Megan Troutman (Covina, Calif.) who singled up the middle driving in Rodriguez.
But the Poets would fall unlucky the very next inning as Rodarte would go yard for the eventual game winner handing Blum the loss who had relieved Annika Seedborg (Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.) when the game was tied.
Kacey Whitney (Cypress, Calif.) finished 3-4 with a run scored. Sanchez was 2-4 and Ahern was 1-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in.
Game 3 (Cal Lutheran - (L, 10-6)
Whittier took on Cal Lutheran in a doubleheader making up the twin bill from a week prior due to inclement weather. This time around the games were able to be played despite the rain falling once again.
Blum got the start and threw a complete game but was hit hard for 10 runs on 10 hits as she picke dup her third fifth loss on the season.
Ahern doubled in the first run to right center that put WC on top 1-0. This lead would hold till the 3rd when CLU was able to tack on three themselves capitalizing on a key error by the Purple & Gold.
Whittier got one back in the 4th to pull within one off the bat of Brianna Alvarez (Montebello, Calif.) who reached on an error by the second baseman but again the Regals would come up with another two runs that stretched their lead.
Wishner singled to right in the 5th that scored Dani Rozhon (Apple Valley, Calif.) that cut the deficit to two. The Poets would add another three in the 6th with Ahern doubled to right center and Wishner grounding out to second that plated the game tying run but it would all be for not as CLU would add a four spot in the top half of the 7th that secured the win.
Garza finished the game 2-3 with a run scored. Ahern was 2-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in and Wishner was 1-4 with two RBI's.
Game 4 (Cal Lutheran - W, 3-2)
Whittier managed to take the second game of the doubleheader. CLU struck first in the top half of the first but it would soon be lost as Ahern would go deep in the bottom half of the frame that gave WC a 2-1 lead.
Wishner drove in the third Poet run in the 3rd with a sacrifice fly and despite the Regals adding one in the 6th, it wouldn't be enough as Whittier would hold on for the one run victory.
Seedborg threw a complete game picking up her third win on the season. She gave up just five hits and one earned run, while striking out nine. Fonseca was a perfect 2-2 for the game, while Ahern was 1-2 with a run scored and two runs batted in.
Whittier remains at home this Saturday, March 11 as they host Chapman University for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00pm and 2:00pm before turning right around the very next day, Sunday, March 12 to take on Denison University in a non-conference twin bill.
