CLAREMONT/WHITTIER, Calif. (April 14-15, 2023) - The Poets took one from the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas this past weekend, despite leading late in all three contests. The rubber game win allows Whittier to remain just one game behind CMS and Pomona-Pitzer, who are tied for third place.

GAME ONE - Friday, April 14 at CMS

The series opener between the SCIAC contenders was a pitcher's duel between seniors Jamie Garvey and Athena Heather Shipley. Through the first six innings, Whittier had just one hit and CMS had two, and the game was scoreless.

In the top of the seventh, the Poets broke through with two hits and a run after a leadoff pinch-hit single by sophomore Andrea Maushart and an RBI triple by junior Marissa Flynn. Despite having runners on second and third with no outs, Whittier could not score anymore, with the inning ending on a fielder's choice to home followed by a double play.

The bottom half began with a runner reaching via an error by second baseman junior Lindsey Perry. A sacrifice bunt put an Athena in scoring position, and a single scored the tying run.

A Garvey strikeout made it two outs, but a single that just got past shortstop junior Heaven Wolf ended the game in walkoff fashion, 2-1.

Garvey, the hard-luck loser, extended her streak of innings pitched without allowing an earned run to 28 2/3 in the contest. It was her fifth consecutive start in which she went the distance.

GAME TWO - Saturday, April 15 at Whittier

CMS struck first with a run each in the second and third innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead against senior Katelyn Calvetti and the Poets.

Whittier then got one back on a throwing error by the shortstop in the fourth. Then, in the fifth, Whittier scored twice more to take a 3-2 lead. The first run of the inning crossed on an error, while the Poets took the lead on a walk by freshman Lucy Brooks with the bases loaded.

Four of the first five runs in the contest were unearned in a sloppy game full of errors on both sides.

The lead, however, was short-lived as the Athenas scored two runs in the sixth to reclaim the lead, 4-3, and then twice more in the sixth to assume a 6-3 advantage, which ended up being the final score.

Perry, who went 2-for-4 with a double, was the only Poet to record multiple hits in the contest. Brooks and sophomore Sara Luna each stole a base in the game. Calvetti pitched a complete game in the loss.

GAME THREE - Sunday, April 16 at Whittier

Bella Peinado started the critical game for the Poets, and the freshman pitched well. The lefty pitched 4 2/3 innings of two-hit softball, allowing one run and giving up just two hits and one walk. She wound up with a no decision, however, after the Whittier lead could not be held. Peinado also stole a base in the game.

The Poets scored three times in the fourth, taking a 3-0 lead on an RBI double by sophomore Maya Palos and a two-run double by Brooks.

After Peinado gave up her first run of the game, Garvey relieved her, inducing a swinging strikeout to end the top half of the fifth. This extended Garvey's streak to 29 innings without an earned run!

However, the Athenas would score three earns runs off the hard-throwing righty in the sixth, benefiting from two infield singles, a double that took a bad hop over Flynn's head and situational hitting. CMS now led, 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, with the Poets two outs away from being swept, junior Sara Chiala singled to right field and advanced to second on a throwing error. Luna's double to right field then scored Chiala, tying the game at four runs.

The Athena first baseman then dropped a foul ball hit by Perry, giving the fierce hitter another chance and allowing her to advance the speedy Luna to third later in the at-bat with a fly ball to left field.

With two outs, Wolf gave the Poets the 5-4 victory with a well-hit single to right field. Wolf, the star of the game, was the only Poet with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Four Poets doubled in the contest (Perry, Palos, Brooks and Luna), and Garvey recorded her ninth win of the season.

Up next for Whittier is a series against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, beginning Friday at home (3 p.m.). The series has playoff implications, as the Sagehens stand one game ahead of the Poets for third place in the conference.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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