WHITTIER, Calif. (May 2, 2026) – The Whittier College softball team rose to the moment on Senior Day, sweeping Chapman in a decisive doubleheader at Palmer Field to clinch a berth in the SCIAC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Game 1: Whittier 7, Chapman 1
The Poets wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for four runs in the opening inning behind a mix of history and timely hitting.
After Chapman struck first, Daniella Contreras (Buena Park, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) delivered a milestone moment, launching her first career home run to even the score. Moments later, Mariah Rodriguez (Barstow, Calif. / Barstow) etched her name into the record books, ripping a double to secure her 20th of the season and break Whittier's single-season doubles record.
The offense kept rolling from there, with Tiaira Richardson (Vista, Calif. / Rancho Buena Vista) and Lana Escarcega (San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian) each delivering RBI singles to cap the four-run frame and give Whittier full control.
The Poets added insurance in the sixth, as Richardson knocked in another run before Addison Sorto (Los Gatos, Calif. / Los Gatos) and Escarcega drew RBI walks to extend the lead to 7-1.
In the circle, Maya Torres (Lakewood, Calif. / Artesia) turned in one of her strongest performances of the season, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on nine hits. The outing marked the fourth complete game of her career, as she consistently limited damage and kept Chapman off balance.
Richardson and Escarcega each finished with multi-RBI efforts, while Rodriguez and Contreras both scored twice to pace the offense.
Game 2: Whittier 3, Chapman 2
With a postseason berth on the line, the Poets delivered once again, using a clutch third inning and dominant pitching to complete the sweep.
Trailing 2-0 early, Whittier answered in the third. Mariah Rodriguez sparked the rally with a single, followed by Mia Gonzales (Pico Rivera, Calif. / Schurr) reaching safely to put runners on the corners. Kelly Nutter (Carlsbad, Calif. / La Costa Canyon / Cal State San Marcos) brought home the first run on a fielder's choice before Addie Sorto delivered the biggest swing of the day, a two-run double to center that gave the Poets a 3-2 lead. Sorto's clutch hit ultimately proved to be the difference, as Whittier locked down the game from there.
Bella Peinado (Ventura, Calif. / Ventura) was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits. The senior struck out three and closed the regular season with a sub-4.00 ERA, continuing a strong stretch of late-season performances.
Offensively, Gonzales added a multi-hit effort, while Nutter contributed an RBI and aggressive baserunning to help fuel the comeback.
With the doubleheader sweep, Whittier finishes the regular season 23-27 overall and 11-10 in SCIAC play, securing the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The postseason appearance marks the program's first since 2019, capping off a resilient and hard-fought regular season.
Head Coach Terry Schweikert and the Poets will head to Redlands on Friday, May 8, for a 1 p.m. matchup against the top-seeded and No. 5 ranked Redlands Bulldogs in the opening round of the SCIAC Tournament.
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