RIVERSIDE, CA. (Feb. 11, 2024)- The Whittier College Women's Softball team started off their season Sunday with a double-header against La Sierra University. The Poets came out hot and got their first win of the season in the opening game, but then dropped the second game to bring their record to 1-1. The split day had a lot of positives for the team, with 4 different girls recording at least 3 hits, as they look forward to another strong season competing in the SCIAC. 

GAME 1:
The first game began and the Poets got on the board early. Emily Adkison (Laguna Niguel, Calif., Mater Dei HS) got started right where she left off last season doubling in her first at-bat of the season. Following Adkison's double, Lily Stell (Burbank, CA, Burbank HS, Los Angeles Mission) drew a walk and brought Maya Palos (Monterey Park, Calif., Schurr HS) to the plate. After having the runners advance on a steal, Palos brought the first run home on a fielder's choice. 

After bringing a runner home in the first, Whittier continued to build their lead in the second and third. In the second inning Sara Luna (Downey, Calif., Downey HS) led things off with a single to second base, then Kelly Nutter (Carlsbad, CA, La Costa Canyon HS, CSUSM and Palomar College) made her Poet debut by singling to center field and bringing Luna home. In the third, Stell got things started with a double to right center field. Then Palos came back up and singled to center field, bringing home her second run of the day. Lucy Brooks (San Jose, Calif., Valley Christian HS) then entered the game to run for Palos and was able to use her speed to score on a Luna single to center field. This third inning was capped off by Nutter driving Luna home for the second time in this game. The Poets had a 5-0 lead in the third. 

The Eagles were able to get 3 runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning, but after this scoring both teams went quiet for a few. Whittier then got things back going in the seventh inning. Marissa Flynn (Covina, Calif., South Hills HS) doubled to get a runner in scoring position for the team, then Heaven Wolf (Montebello, Calif., Schurr HS, Rio Hondo College) came up to pinch-hit. Wolf came up huge for the Poets, singling to right field and bringing home the team's 6th run. La Sierra scored 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Poets' advantage was too much and Whittier held on to win this first game by a final score of 6-5. 

Game 2: 
The Poets got off to another hot start in the second game of the double-header. Wolf and Adkison started the game with back to back singles, then Flynn brought the first run of the game home with a fielder's choice. Down 1-0, the Eagles were able to put together a good first inning of their own putting up 4 on the Poets. 

Whittier was able to get a couple back in the fourth and fifth innings. Brooklyn Umali (San Diego, CA, Mt. Carmel HS, Palomar) got things going single to right-center field, then Brooks came in to use her speed again on the bases. After stealing second, Brooks came around to score on Nutter's double to left-center. Then in the 5th Wolf singled her way one and was able to score later in the inning on Flynn's second double of the day. The Eagles then poured in 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-3 lead over the Poets. 

The girls though were not going to just roll over in this game and made a final push in the final 2 innings. In the sixth Luna and Alia Marquez (Fullerton, CA, Fullerton HS, Orange Coast / Long Beach City) drew walks and both were able to come across the plate to bring the score to 9-5. The final inning started and Whittier would need some big offense to make this comeback. Flynn started things off with a single and then Sara Chiala (Los Gatos, Calif., Los Gatos HS) pinch-hit and earned a walk. Andrea Maushardt (Downey, Calif., Saint Joseph HS) then stepped to the plate and brought a run home on a single to second base. Nutter then added to her RBI total by bringing another runner home on a groundout. In the end, though the Poets fought hard they would lose this one by a final score of 9-8. 

Overall, the women had a solid first day of games. Flynn, Adkison, Wolf, and Nutter each had 3 hits; while Marquez and Luna had 2 for themselves. Stell, Adkison (2), and Flynn (2) each had doubles in today's games. Nutter had a standout day for the Poets in her first action for the college, finishing with 3 hits, 2 doubles, and 3 RBIs. 

Head Coach Trisha Senyo and the Poets will have a little over a week off, before returning home to take on Brandeis University. The Poets will be taking on the Judges in a double-header matchup with the first game set to begin at 12:30 on Monday February 19th.