WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2010) – It
was a tough day for the Tigers who dropped two Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games on the road to rivals
Whittier College. The Poets were just too much for Oxy, taking game
one, 13-4, in five innings; and shutting them out in game two, 9-0,
in six innings.
Whittier (4-1, 0-2 SCIAC) was unmatched,
totaling 20 hits, five of which were home runs, and scoring an
impressive 22 runs overall. But it wasn't all bad for the
Tigers, who looked good early on.
In game one of the double header,
Olympia Powell got things going for the Black and
Orange, getting on base with a single shot to third. Next up,
Gabriela Chavez hit a sacrifice bunt, advancing
Powell to second and bringing Alyssa Escalante up
to the plate. Escalante powered a shot down the left field line,
putting runners on first and third. Then it was Stephanie
Egan's turn, she hit a sturdy shot up the middle to
send Powell home, earning her an RBI and drawing first blood for
the Tigers. A stolen base and an error by the center fielder sent
Escalante across home plate, putting Oxy up by two in the first
inning.
The Poets were quick to answer, however,
putting up three runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead
right back from the Tigers. It was all Whittier from then on out.
The Poets tacked on three more runs in the second and a remarkable
seven runs in the third, including a grand slam shot by Kellie
Canida, to put Whittier up, 13-2.
The Tigers tried to claw their way back in the
fifth. With a runner on first, Escalante hit a beauty out of the
park, tacking on two more for the Tigers, but that's all they
would do. The mercy rule was applied in the fifth, handing over a
13-4 victory to the Poets.
Shanna Yackel and
Kimi Elguea pitched two innings a piece for the
Tigers; Yackel was tagged with the loss. Heather Dady, who pitched
all five innings for the Poets, came away with the win.
The momentum only continued to build for
Whittier in game two; starting things off with a home run shot to
center field in the bottom of the second. A two-run homer in the
fourth, three runs in fifth and a three-run, walk-off home run in
the bottom of the sixth, put the Poets up nine. The Tiger's,
unable to get anything going all game; fell to the Poets 9-0.
Oxy was shut out by Jessica Rosnack who threw
a perfect game for the Poets. Brittany Vacura,
took the loss, after pitching all five innings for the Tigers.
The Tigers, 2-6 overall and 0-4 in SCIAC play,
hope to snap their losing streak this Saturday, Feb. 27, as they
host a double header at Bell Field against the USC club team,
starting at noon.
Article by: Savannah
Russell, Sports Information Intern
