Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2022) – Senior outfielder Dane Goodman (Ross, Calif. / Redwood) of the Whittier College baseball team led the Poets' offensive efforts at Chapman University on Friday afternoon in the first of several one-off non-conference games against SCIAC foes this season.

The Poets had their work cut out for them against the Panthers, the 2019 Division III national champions, but managed some offense in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game. Senior outfielder River Danner (Seal Beach, Calif. / Los Alamitos) opened the inning with a walk, his first of the season, but outfield mate James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif. / Valley Christian) would replace him on the basepaths after hitting into a fielder's choice. Stirton would go on to swipe second base for his fourth steal of the young season before coming around to score following a lining shot into right field from Goodman. Following the base knock, the senior would go on to swipe his third bag of the season before the inning could end, putting him well on track to outdo his 2018-19 total of nine. Whittier otherwise found itself in an uphill battle with the Panthers, but got a nice reprieve in the form of two-and-a-third one-hit innings from junior righty Matt Helguera (Montebello, Calif. / Schurr). 

Head Coach Mike Rizzo and the Poets will look to break into the win column when they host the University of La Verne for some non-conference fare on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m.

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