WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb 12, 2023)- Whittier opened its season with a home doubleheader sweep of George Fox, winning Game 1, 9-8 in nine innings and Game 2 by a score of 3-2. Jamie Garvey was the winning pitcher in both games, striking out 11 with just two walks in a combined 9 1/3 innings, allowing zero earned runs (one unearned) and four hits. Emily Adkison was the offensive star of the day, going 6-for-8 with three runs, three RBI and one walk. One of Adkison's RBI was the decisive hit in Game 1. 

GAME 1

Despite recording 17 hits as a team and allowing just 10, Game 1 of the doubleheader proved to be an epic nine-inning contest. 

Whittier led 2-1 after one, thanks to an RBI double by Adkison and a run-producing single by Heaven Wolf.

George Fox scored the next six runs to go ahead 7-2, doing most of its damage in a four-run top of the 5th.

The Poets, however, stormed back, evening the score at seven runs after scoring five in the bottom half of the inning. Melissa Carassco had a two-run single in the frame, scoring Adkison and Kelly Monroy on the play.

Then, in the sixth inning, each team scored. George Fox scored on a walk with the bases loaded, while Whittier scored on a fielder's choice.

The Bruins came knocking, getting runners on in the eighth and ninth innings, but Garvey was clutch, not allowing any to score. Garvey was especially impressive in the eighth, stranding a runner who reached second base with just one out.

Garvey's brilliance set the stage for the Poets to walk off in the ninth, and that they did.

Lindsey Perry began the inning with a hard-hit single. Then, with one out, Sara Chiala and Monroy each reached on errors, loading the bases.

Adkison promptly hit a walkoff single to left field, scoring Perry and ending a two-hour and 48-minute marathon game with a Poets victory.

In Game 1, five Whittier hitters had multi-hit games, including Monroy (2-5), Adkison (3-5), Carrasco (3-4), Perry (3-4) and Lucy Brooks (2-4). Three Poets scored twice (Monroy, Adkison and Brooks), and a quartet of Whittier players recorded two RBI (Adkison, Flynn, Carrasco and Heaven Wolf). Three Poets tallied extra-base hits, with Monroy, Adkison and Maya Palos each hitting a double.

GAME 2

The second game of the doubleheader was much lower-scoring, with Whittier winning 3-2.

Whittier struck first on a Jocelyn Signoretti single, which scored Adkison.

The next run of the game wasn't until a solo home run by the Bruins in he top fourth. The game would not be tied for long, however.

In the bottom of the fifth, Lucy Brooks hit a long home run to left field, the first of the freshman's career. This gave the Poets a 2-1 lead.

Then, in the top of the seventh, Garvey was one out away from ending the game. Brooks, however, couldn't reel in a warning track-fly ball, which allowed the Bruins to tie the game at two runs apiece. Garvey got the next batter to pop out to shortstop, setting the stage for another Poets walkoff.

Perry started the bottom half with a scalding single to center field. Chiala then bunted Perry over to second, one out. Perry then advanced to third on a passed ball.

Next, Monroy hit a ground ball to the pitcher, who unsuccessfully tried to throw out Perry at home. Thanks to the error, the Poets had their second victory of the day and season.

The Poets next take on the Pioneers of Lewis & Clark Friday in a home doubleheader beginning at noon.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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