WHITTIER, Calif. (March 12, 2023)- The Whittier softball team swept Buena Vista University in a doubleheader today, hanging up their cleats with 6-1 and 8-3 victories. 

Game One: 

The Poets began Game One with their ace Jamie Garvey on the mound ready to shut down the Beavers. The women provided some support for Garvey early, as they were able to notch one in the first. Lucy Brooks singled up the middle, and after stealing second, scored on Maya Palos' single to right field. 

The Beavers remained quite through the first couple innings of the game, before they were able to score one in the third on a double. But the Poets were ready to fight back and Brooks got the run back for them with a sac fly in the bottom of the inning.

Whittier was able to score two more in the fourth inning. After starting the inning with three straight hits, Samantha Ramirez hit a sac fly to left field to bring home a run. That play was followed by a Sara Chiala single that brought home a second run. 

The Poets' final runs of the game came in the fifth inning, thanks to a Gysselle Soto two-out single that scored two. This two-out rally was set up by a Kelly Monroy double and Marissa Flynn single. 

The Poets wrapped this game up with a 6-1 victory over the Beavers. Jamie Garvey was excellent in the circle, pitching 6 1/3 innings, only giving up one run and striking out seven. 

Game Two:

The Beavers would not have an easier game hitting this second game, as fellow senior pitcher Katelyn Calvetti toeing the rubber for Game Two. Buena Vista did manage to jump on the Calvetti early in this game scoring 3 runs in the top of the first, but this is where the scoring would end for the Beavers. 

Whittier got right back to work with the bats after giving up 3 first inning runs to the Beavers and be down for the first time today. Emily Adkison, who had to come out of the first game with an injury, came back the second ready to roll. In her first at-bat of the day, she crushed a ball over the left field wall for a solo shot. Maya Palos then wore a pitch to set up Marrissa Flynn. Flynn got her pitch and drove it deep center field, allowing Palos to come all the way around to score. 

The score remained 3-2 in Buena Vista's favor until the fifth inning when the Poets exploded for five runs. Adkison singled to start the inning, followed by walks from Palos and Flynn. Bella Bordine then came to the plate and singled to center field to score 2. This was the Poets first lead of the game. Next, Heaven Wolf hit a sac fly to center field, allowing one more to come across. The final runs of the inning came when Chiala came to the plate and rocketed one over the left field fence for a two-run homer. 

The Poets scored their final run in the sixth. After Olivia Butler came in and knocked a pinch-hit single, Bordine crushed another ball down the left field line for a double, scoring Butler. 

Calvetti pitched well after giving up three early runs, going five innings with three hits and three runs allowed, and two strikeouts. Freshman Bella Peinado came in to close the game for the Poets, pitching two innings of hitless ball with a strikeout.

Many Poets swung the bat well today, but they were led by Bordine. Bordine went 3-for-4 today with a walk, a double, and three RBIs. Flynn's swing looked great as she went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI. Chiala was a sparkplug for Whittier today at the plate having three hits on the day with a double, a home run, and 3 RBIs. While getting hurt the first game, Adkison came back in the second game and picked up right where she left offm going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, and an RBI. 

These two wins today bring the Poets' record to 9-3 on the year. The women will begin conference play next week as they travel to Redlands on Friday to take on the Bulldogs in their SCIAC opener. This game will begin at 3:00.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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