Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Softball team suffered their first losses of the season Wednesday dropping a twin bill to No. 24 Brandeis University 7-3 and 13-8.
The Purple & Gold drop back to .500, while Brandeis improves to 3-1.
Game 1 (L, 7-3)
The difference in game one was the top half of the 2nd Inning where the Judges put up a five spot on five hits. Whittier was able to get on the scoreboard in the 4th with a solo shot to dead center from Jannelle Ha (Arcadia, Calif.) and then got within two at 5-3 following another two coming in the 6th. During that frame Hayley Wishner (Chino, Calif.) started things off getting hit by a pitch and was then moved over after a Ha single up the middle. Emily Facio (Chino, Calif.) then walked to load the bases and Naomi Martinez (Marina Del Rey, Calif.) would drive in the pair with a single down into the right field corner.
Brandeis was able to get those two runs back the very next inning following a Felder two out single. Then in the Poet final at-bats despite getting two runners on with Jocelyn Signoretti (La Palma, Calif.) singling through the left side and Sierra Rodriguez (Whittier, Calif.) singling down the right field line, the rally would come up short.
Freshman Katelyn Calvetti (Monterey, Calif.) was charged with her first loss on the season giving up five runs on five hits, going just 2.0 Innings. Alexis Vargas (Pomona, Calif.) came in relief and threw the final 5.0 Innings strong giving up just two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Ha led the offense going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Rodriguez was 2-for-4 and Martinez was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.
Game 2 (L, 13-8)
It was a high scoring affair in the second game of the doubleheader, once again with one inning proving to be the difference in the outcome. It was back and forth in the early stages. Brandeis put up two in their opening at-bats but saw WC get one back in their half capitalizing on a throwing error by the pitcher on a force attempt. Whittier tied things up the very next inning with Jade Sanchez (Whittier, Calif.) singling through the left side and then stealing second. Ha then capitalized driving her in with a base hit up the middle.
Both teams would add runs in the 3rd as Rothenberg would go yard for the Judges and Signoretti sparking a rally in the bottom half with a double to left before coming in on a Sanchez single through the left side. The big inning came in the 4th where Brandeis opened things up with a nine spot coming on eight hits. That moved the score to 12-3 putting the run rule into effect. But WC didn't go away quietly bringing across two in their at-bats with Ha and Rodriguez going back to back with doubles.
With the score 13-5 in the middle of the 7th, Whittier put together a comeback in their at-bats bringing across three runs on four hits, while capitalizing on an error. After two quick outs to start the frame Wishner started the rally with a single to left and then advanced after a Brianna MaGee (Torrance, Calif.) single on the infield. Yolanda Oregel (Anaheim, Calif.) then loaded the bases with a single to right and then Angileri and Ha would combine to reach on an error and a single that made it a five-run game.
Freshman Lyndsey Magness (Placentia, Calif.) was charged with the loss after going 3.0 Innings giving up five runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Sanchez had a 2-for-2 effort with a run scored and an RBI. MaGee was 2-for-4 scoring once and Oregel was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Whittier has a one day break before they host Linfield College on Friday, February 21. Game times set for 11:30am and 1:30pm. Whittier and Linfield matched up against each other in the NCAA Division III National Championship West Regional. The Poets dropped both games 6-5 and 8-4.
