WHITTIER, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2024) – Seniors
Emily Adkison (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Mater Dei) and
Lindsey Perry (Corona, Calif. / Santiago) led the Whittier College softball team against the University of Redlands on Friday afternoon, capping off Division III Week and Officials Appreciation Week in style with an extra-innings game.
Adkison, who has not officially struck out since her sophomore season back in 2022, set the tone as the Poets' leadoff hitter by opening the contest with a double down the left field line. Perry, who batted second, found her way onto the basepaths early as well, though her fortune came thanks to a Redlands error that Adkison up to eventually score on a sacrifice fly hit by junior second baseman
Kelly Nutter (Carlsbad, Calif. / La Costa Canyon Cal State San Marcos | Palomar College).
Perry would, however, go on to match her classmate with three hits. Both players showed they could find gaps in the Bulldogs' outfield, and used their athleticism to combine for four of the Poets' six RBIs on the afternoon. Adkison' first base knock came in the second inning, when she knocked home freshman outfielder
Daniela Contreras (Buena Park, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) on a single into right field. She later scored freshman designated player
Madison Gasca-Reyes (Whittier, Calif. / St. Paul) on another single, this time up the middle on a play that perfectly split the Redlands infield. Perry, meanwhile, kept aggressive on the basepaths, finishing the game with a pair of doubles that will surely do wonders for her slugging percentage.
Unfortunately, the Poets were unable to completely shake the Bulldogs, as Redlands had an answer for nearly every offensive outburst Whittier could muster. A desperation sixth inning saw the Bulldogs ultimately force extra innings as both starting pitchers remained in the game and went the full distance. Junior pitcher
Kiley Kraft (Alhambra, Calif. / Ramona Convent Secondary School Pasadena City College) showed she could handle Redlands at different points in the game, picking up two huge strikeouts to help galvanize the defense behind her. However, Redlands took the lead for the final time in the top eighth, putting pressure on Whittier to weave three runs together in order to extend the game.
Junior catcher
Maya Palos (Monterey Park, Calif. / Schurr) responded to the Bulldogs' challenge with a solo home run over the fence in left center field to give the Poets hope. However, the home team would eventually run out of rope, forcing them to regroup for the rest of the weekend.
Head Coach
Trisha Senyo and the Poets will finish the Redlands series on Saturday, Apr. 6, when they head in land to partake in a SCIAC doubleheader.
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