Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Softball team wrapped up their full weekend Sunday at Palmer Field as they took on Chapman University in a doubleheader. The two games were a make-up due to inclement weather back in March.
The Purple & Gold provided a comeback in game one but couldn't complete it as they fell 8-5. But they managed to shutout CU in game two 4-0 to improve to 16-11-1, 9-7 SCIAC on the season.
Game 1 (L, 8-5)
Whittier was put in an early hole after the first two innings. Chapman put up two runs in the first on four hits and then sent a solo shot out in the top half of the second to go on top 3-0. The Poets managed to get one back in the bottom half of the inning. Brittany Attaway (Claremont, Calif.) led off the frame with a walk and moved up following a base knock from Kacey Whitney (Cypress, Calif.). Hayley Wishner (Chino, Calif.) then stepped in and drove one through the left side that loaded the bases and Jannelle Ha (Arcadia, Calif.) capped off the rally with a fielder's choice plating one.
WC cut the deficit to one in the 3rd thanks to Whitney doubling to left that scored Attaway who reached on a single to second base in the at-bat earlier. Then in the 5th, the Poets took their first lead of the game bringing across two behind an Attaway groundout and an Alli Fonseca (Pico Rivera, Calif.) single up the middle. But that lead wouldn't hold as Chapman would tack on one in the 6th and another four in the 7th to swing the momentum moving the score to 8-4.
The Poets were able to scrap for another run in the 7th but it wouldn't be enough as CU would come back to take game one.
Sam Casanas (La Habra, Calif.) threw 6.1 innings and picked up the loss, as she drops to 3-5. She gave up eight runs on 15 hits with two strikeouts. Whitney had a big day at the plate going 2-3 with two runs batted in. Attaway was 1-2 scoring twice and driving in another, while walking twice and Wishner and Kaitlyn Garza (Chino, Calif.) would each record a multi-hit game.
Game 2 (W, 4-0)
The Poets bounced back in game two to shutout the Panthers behind a complete game from freshman Amanda Melodia (Placentia, Calif.) who went 7.0 innings giving up three hits along with a strikeout. She had help early with the Poets tacking on a run in the bottom half of the first. Garza led off the inning with a triple down the left field line and she was brought in by Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) with a groundout on the infield.
In the fourth, Whittier added to their lead this time from Wishner who ripped one through the left side that brought in Attaway, who tripled down the right field line in her at-bat.
Then to put the finishing touches on the game, freshman Naomi Martinez (Marina Del Rey, Calif.) would single to left that brought in a pair in the 6th that secured the shutout.
Attaway was a perfect 3-3 for the game with a run scored. Garza was 1-4 with a run scored and Ahern, Whitney, Jade Sanchez (Whittier, Calif.), Wishner, and Martinez each registered hits as well.
Whittier remains at home this Friday, April 13 when they host the University of Redlands beginning at 4:00pm. The very next day, Saturday, April 14 they travel down to Chapman University and take on the Panthers for a doubleheader with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
