Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WHITTIER, Calif. – Oxy traveled to Whittier College this afternoon in hopes of snapping a four game skid through Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, but although the effort was there, the Poets grabbed both wins, scoring a 5-2 win in the opener before rallying to win 3-1 in the finale.
In game one the Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in their half of the first. Jacqueline Shimamoto drew a walk to open the game but didn't spend much time on first as Gabriela Chavez followed up with a triple to bring Shimamoto home. Ashley Noone was up next and ripped a grounder to third that scored Chavez, and just like that the Black and Orange had bolted ahead.
The Poets starting hurler Heather Dady settled down after that opening inning, scattering just two more hits over the next six innings, while the offense used that performance from the mound to slowly work back into the game. After starting pitcher Brittany Vacura held Whittier scoreless in the bottom of the first, the Poets scored a run in each inning after that, grinding out a 5-2 win behind solid offense and a strong finish by Dady.
Oxy recovered and fired out of the gates in game two, with Shimamoto smashing a double to open the game, followed again by a hit from Chavez to bring her home. It was Shimamoto's second score of the afternoon, both times being driven home by Chavez, who finished with two RBI's on the day.
This time the 1-0 lead was handed to starting pitcher Amber Garland, who surrendered just one run through the first six innings, matching her counterparts performance almost pitch for pitch. Both teams went into seventh deadlocked at 1-1.
Again though it was Whittier who did just enough to lock up the sweep, as Garland made one mistake in the seventh, and the Poets made the most of it, smashing their fourth homerun of the day. This one a shot with one aboard to seal a 3-1 win for Whittier (23-11, 11-7).
The schedule for Oxy (15-15, 5-13) does not get any easier as they host the nationally ranked Bulldogs on Friday, April 15th. First pitch for the double header against the University of Redlands is set for 2:00pm.
