Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 24, 2022) – The Whittier College softball team got some big contributions during Thursday's doubleheader against nationally ranked No. 24 Brandeis University, nearly taking the first game off the judges while maintaining a competitive balance during the second game.

Game 1: Brandeis 3, Whittier 2

Junior starter Jamie Garvey (Wilmington, Calif. / El Camino College) brought her 'A' game to the Judges in the first game of the doubleheader, leaning on the defense behind her in the necessary spots while not giving the Massachusetts school anything easy to hit. Through the first six innings, Garvey had surrendered just one run to go with four strikeouts while the Poets offense did its part to put the team in a position to take another win off another ranked opponent. A single down the right field line from first baseman Emily Adkison (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Mater Dei) gave the Poets a one-run lead early, and although the Judges would provide a quick answer, a solo shot from right fielder Sofia Paniagua (Glendora, Calif. / Glendora) in the fourth inning brought the fans to their feet and allowed Garvey to pitch with a lead nearly the entirety of the game. Paniagua, along with shortstop Kelly Monroy (La Puente, Calif. / Rio Hondo College) picked up a pair of hits giving the Poets seven over the game while Garvey surrendered just four by comparison. However, an unlucky break on a throw with one runner on resulted in the game-winning run coming around to third, and with nobody out the Judges' late momentum proved too much to overcome. Second baseman Gysselle Soto (San Fernando, Calif. / Mission College) joined Paniagua as the only Poets to register a hit for extra bases.

Game 2: Brandeis 5, Whittier 2

The Poets got another strong pitching performance out of junior starter Katelyn Calvetti (Monterey, Calif. / Monterey) in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader. Calvetti took a bit of a different approach to the Brandeis lineup than Garvey, however, mowing down the Judges' lineup and coming out on top in several high count situations. The power and break to the junior's pitches proved too much for Brandeis in the early going, though the Judges would scratch a couple runs across in the fifth that prompted an immediate response from the Poets.

Respond, they did, as Whittier would go on to score runs in each of the final two innings of play. Adkison knocked in the first run which scored senior outfielder Brianna MaGee (Torrance, Calif. / West Torrance), while pinch-runner Lindsey Perry (Corona, Calif. / Santiago) would come around to score the second run, taking advantage of an error by the opposing shortstop. Calvetti would re-enter the game in the seventh inning, striking out two more Brandeis players for good measure.

Head Coach Trisha Senyo and the Poets are set to begin SCIAC play next week whent they host the University of Redlands on Friday, Mar. 4 before traveling inland for a Saturday doubleheader.

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