WHITTIER, Calif. (March 18, 2023)- The Poets wrapped up their season series today against the Chapman Panthers with a double-header matchup at home. Whittier took the first game of the day with a 8-3 victory, but lost the second one 11-4. 

Game 1:

Aaron Cazares, took the mound for Whittier and showed why he is one of the young arms to watch in the conference. The freshman pitched a strong 6.1 innings only giving up 5 hits and 2 runs, with 3 strikeouts. 

Whittier was able to give the pitcher an early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning. Lew Rice and Jackson Brummett were able to draw walks in the inning, then with 2 outs Delvan Gomez gave the Poets a 1-0 lead. Gomez shot a single through the right side, allowing Rice to come around from second base. 

After giving up a run in the top half of the fourth, the Poets then came back and regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Luis Guillermo Chavarin Jr. opened the inning up for the Poets with a single, and was moved over to second base by a SAC bunt from Brummett. Once again the Poets had a runner in scoring position with 2 outs. James Stirton then stepped to the plate and hit a rocket up the middle of the field, which proved enough to bring Chavarin home. 

Chapman once again tied the game in the top of the seventh, but the Poets were not giving this game away and put up 6 runs in the bottom half of the seventh. The 6 run inning was filled with 5 hits and a walk from the Poets. They were led by Teige Barrett's double, Gomez's single, and Rice's home run, all of which brought runs home. 

Whittier would go on to win this game by a score of 8-3. The series would be decided by the final game. 

Game 2: 

The second game began and the Panthers instantly took an early lead, with their leadoff man crushing a ball over the right field wall on the second pitch of the game. Chapman continued to pour on the runs at the start of the game, bringing home 3 more in the second inning. 

The Poets remained quiet for most of this game, until the fourth inning. Dane Goodman led the inning off with a single, followed by Barrett and Rice reaching. Abe Bullard came up next and gave the Poets their first run of the game. After a battle at the plate, Bullard stood in there and took a fastball off the hip to bring home a run. Jesse Mendoza brought home the next run with a SAC fly and the final run of the inning came from a wild pitch. 

The Whittier bats were kept at bay for the majority of the rest of the game. Joe Plaskett came into this game to pitch in the top of the seventh inning and got 2 quick outs on 5 pitches. Plaskett's spot to hit then came up in the order in the bottom half of the seventh. The two-way freshman dug into the box and crushed a towering ball over the left field wall. Unfortunately, this would be the end of the Poets scoring and they would lose the game 11-4. 

Many Poets swung the bat well today, with them totalling 19 hits in the two games. But it was Rice that was the star of the day going 4-6 with a homer, a double, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks. The Poets will have to be ready to bounce back quickly, only having 1 day off before returning to play on Monday. They will take on Tufts at 3:00 in this non-conference matchup. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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