WHITTIER, Calif. (Mar. 9, 2024) – The Whittier College softball team experienced a mixed bag of luck on batted balls against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday, but a few players managed to further some significant individual streaks that continue to lend fo the team's success.
The Poets took the first game of their 2024 series with the Sagehens back on Friday, Mar. 1, but due to a series of rain showers and impending rain showers, the series would have to be continued eight days later.
Game 1: Pomona-Pitzer 5, Whittier 2
For the better part of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Poets had little difficulty with making hard contact against the Sagehens' starting pitcher. Senior infielder
Emily Adkison (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Mater Dei) led all Whittier players at the dish, connecting on a pair of hits, one of which went of extra bases. Adkison also continued a K-less streak that is perhaps the most impressive streak on campus (she has not struck out since her sophomore season in 2021). Her hard contact also resulted in one of the Poets' two runs for the game when she knocked in middle infielder
Heaven Wolf (Montebello, Calif. / Schurr) in the seventh inning with her team's back against the wall.
Whittier's other run came in the sixth inning when junior catcher
Maya Palos (Monterey Park, Calif. / Schurr) knocked in senior utility
Lindsey Perry (Corona, Calif. / Santiago) as part of what looked to be a huge run for the Poets. Things quickly shaped up for the home team during this part of the game, with two runners, including Palos, on base with just one out. However, the Sagehens managed to work out of the jam, setting the stage for the Poets to attempt a final offensive surge at the end of the game. Starting pitcher
Bella Peinado (Ventura, Calif. / Ventura) logged another start, her third of the week, and pitched to contact to success, allowing fewer hits (four) than innings pitched (five).
Game 2: Pomona-Pitzer 10, Whittier 3
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, Whittier succumbed to the Pomona-Pitzer long ball and had to play catchup for the full seven innings. However, the Poets did take the opportunity to put their tenacity on full display, spurning the Sagehens on multiple opportunities to end the game inside the seven-inning window.
Six different Whittier played picked up hits, while a few more entered the game in a pinch-hitting and pinch-running capacity, making their 2024 debuts. Chief among them was freshman pitcher
Alyssa Castillo (Southgate, Calif. / Legacy), who relieved starter
Daryanna Ductoc (Alhambra, Calif. / Ramona Convent Secondary School). Outfielder
Sara Luna (Downey, Calif. / Downey) also picked up an RBI, as did classmates
Andrea Maushardt (Downey, Calif. / Saint Joseph) and
Alia Marquez (Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton). Additionally, Luna kept up her successful streak on the base paths, having stolen seven bases this year without getting caught stealing. Her seven steals are especially significant, considering she is already approaching a season-high in stolen bases (she had 10 as a sophomore in 2022).
Head Coach
Trisha Senyo and the Poets will head to Tucson, Ariz. next, where they will compete in the TIG (Tucson Invitational Games) softball tournament against a slew of tough Division III foes over the better part of the ensuing week.
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