Photo: Tony Leon/D3WestPhotography

WHITTIER, Calif. (Apr. 10, 2022) – The Whittier College softball team came within one run on three separate occasions against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges over the weekend, but fell short on all three occasions of earning a key SCIAC victory as the race to the Postseason Tournament begins to intensify.

Friday: Claremont-MS 2, Whittier 1

The Poets got a needed solid start from starting pitcher Katelyn Calvetti (Monterey, Calif. / Monterey) in the first game of this weekend's series. The junior improved her ratios by surrendering just three hits over seven innings, pitching to contact to limit any damage the Athenas could produce. Calvetti kept the ball in the park with 13 of the Athenas' 21 outs coming by way of fly ball, and the junior held the visiting team scoreless for the first five innings, pitching with a lead all the while. The lead came courtesy of an error from the CMS catcher in the first inning that allowed senior leadoff hitter Brianna MaGee (Torrance, Calif. / West Torrance) to come home from third. MaGee reached base on a leadoff walk, accounting for the Poets' only run in Friday's game. Though Whittier would produce a few long at-bats, they ultimately came up short in a pitcher's dual that saw players reach base just 10 times between the two teams.

Saturday Game 1: Claremont-MS 3, Whittier 2

The one-run theme continued on Saturday, with the Athenas squeaking out a Game 1 win. In spite of this, junior pitcher Jamie Garvey (Wilmington, Calif. / El Camino College) did well to limit the damage as the home team left seven runners on base over the seven-inning game. Garvey, who struck out four, also held the Athenas off the scoreboard over the game's final three innings, holding them to just two hits over that stretch.

MaGee, who moved the three hole for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, knocked in the Poets' first run of the game after junior leadoff hitter Kelly Monroy tripled to right field in the game's very first at-bat. The Athenas would provide a quick answer, however, prompting the Poets to strike back in the top fourth. Freshman Bella Bordine (La Mesa, Calif. / Helix) doubled into right center, to kick off a big inning for the Purple & Gold, and eventually, senior outfielder Emily Facio (Chino, Calif. / Chino) would capitalize on back-to-back wild pitches to advance to third before being brought home by a single from senior third baseman Yolanda Oregel (Anaheim, Calif. / Loara). From there, both teams would tighten up defensively, as the Poets' second run of the game would be the final run scored by either team. Monroy, however, would finish the game 3-for-3 at the dish with a pair of singles to go with her leadoff triple.

Saturday Game 2: Claremont-MS 4, Whittier 3

The series' theme of solid pitching performances would continue into the final game of the weekend series. Junior Riley Garcia (Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills) exhibited command of the strike zone and pitched well, but had to contend with another tough outing from the Athenas' starter. Garcia struck out four over the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, issuing just one free pass to run her K:BB ratio on the season to 46:14. The junior did, however, hold the Athenas off the scoreboard for the game's first three innings, paving the way for the Poets to take the early lead. The Poets got on the board in the top third when MaGee tripled into right field to score sophomore infielder Lindsey Perry (Corona, Calif. / Santiago). Whittier would regain the lead late with a two-run sixth inning serving as the catalyst. Monroy tripled for the second time of the day to get things started, and from there, the Poets were able to create chaos in the CMS infield, first with a sac bunt from freshman catcher Maya Palos (Montebello, Calif. / Schurr), followed by a fielding error from the Athenas' shortstop that allowed senior Sofia Paniagua (Glendora, Calif. / Glendora) to score, giving the Poets a one-run lead entering the final frame.

Head Coach Trisha Senyo and the Poets will have their next SCIAC series this weekend with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (5-7 SCIAC). The Poets will host the Sagehens for the Saturday, Apr. 16 doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.

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