CLAREMONT, Calif. (Apr. 11, 2026) – Addison Sorto (Los Gatos, Calif. / Los Gatos) and Kelly Nutter (Carlsbad, Calif. / La Costa Canyon / Cal State San Marcos) led a strong offensive showing in Game 1, while Mariah Rodriguez (Barstow, Calif. / Barstow) and Bella Peinado (Ventura, Calif. / Ventura) powered Whittier to a split against Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday afternoon in SCIAC play.
Game 1: Pomona-Pitzer 8, Whittier 7
Whittier came out firing early, building a commanding 7-0 lead behind timely hitting and aggressive offense. Freshman Mia Gonzales (Pico Rivera, Calif. / Schurr) highlighted the surge with a two-run home run in the third inning, continuing her standout rookie campaign.
The Poets plated three runs in the second inning, sparked by a two-run double from Tiaira Richardson (Vista, Calif. / Rancho Buena Vista) before Addie Sorto reached and came around to score on a defensive miscue. Whittier followed with four more runs in the third, as Sorto delivered a two-run double and Gonzales launched her team-leading blast to left field.
Sorto turned in a career day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs for her first collegiate three-hit game, while Nutter matched the effort with three hits of her own. Richardson added a multi-hit performance with two RBIs, helping pace an 11-hit attack.
Despite the early dominance, the Sagehens mounted a late comeback, scoring five runs in the sixth and walking it off with three in the seventh to take the opener. Even with the setback, Whittier's offense showcased its depth and ability to generate runs in bunches.
Game 2: Whittier 4, Pomona-Pitzer 1
The Poets bounced back in the second game behind a composed performance from senior Peinado and continued production from the heart of the lineup.
Peinado was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on six hits. The senior continued her strong stretch, finishing the series with two complete-game efforts and providing stability across all three games.
Offensively, Whittier struck early as Gonzales drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning before Nutter added an RBI single in the third to reclaim the lead. The breakthrough came in the sixth inning, when Rodriguez launched a two-run home run to extend the advantage and put the game out of reach.
Rodriguez capped another stellar series, finishing .538 across the three games with two home runs and eight RBIs, continuing to build a strong case in the SCIAC Athlete of the Year conversation. Nutter stayed hot as well, posting a .545 average in the series, while Gonzales and Daniella Contreras (Buena Park, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) each contributed multi-hit efforts.
Head Coach Terry Schweikert and the Poets move to 17-14 overall and 5-7 in SCIAC play. Whittier will remain on the road Friday, April 17, when they open a conference series against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 3 p.m.
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