LA VERNE, Calif. (May 3, 2024) – The Whittier College softball team nearly capitalized on some shoddy defense from the University of La Verne on Friday evening, but came up just short in a game that came down to the wire.
Junior catcher Maya Palos (Monterey Park, Calif. / Schurr) got the Purple & Gold on the board early with a sacrifice fly that staked starting pitcher Bella Peinado (Ventura, Calif. / Ventura) to an early lead before she even took the mound. Peinado held the Leopards scoreless over the first two innings before the aggressive La Verne offense found its form in the game's middle stages. Despite the four-run hole, however, the Poets went on to tie the game with two-run innings in the fifth and sixth. Sophomore outfielder Lucy Brooks (San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian) kicked the rally off with a double into the gap in right center field, and was effectively maneuvered around the bases by a fielding error by the opposing short stop, followed by a throwing error by the Leopards' first baseman. Junior outfielder Alia Marquez (Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Orange Coast | Long Beach City College) also found her way around the bases in this way.
The sixth inning yielded similar results to the point of senior first baseman Emily Adkison (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Mater Dei) leading off with another double into the outfield. The reigning SCIAC Hitter of the Week went on to score her team's fourth run of the game on a double steal of second base and home, working in tandem with freshman outfielder Daniella Contreras (Buena Park, Calif. / John F. Kennedy), who had just drawn a walk. Contreras would go on to tie the game on heels of a Marissa Flynn (Covina, Calif. / South Hills) base hit followed by yet another error from the home team. In spite of these timely plays, the Poets ultimately drew a tough matchup with La Verne's pitching staff, which used three different pitchers to cap the Poets' top bats.
After La Verne's big middle-inning spell, junior transfer Olivia Nunez (Placentia, Calif. / Valencia | Fullerton College) entered the game in relief, and gave a good account of herself, allowing just one unearned run in three innings while striking out one.
Head Coach Trisha Senyo and the Poets will finish up the 2024 regular season on Saturday, May 4, when they host the University of La Verne for a doubleheader, in which the team's five senior players will be recognized prior to the game.
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