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Box Score 2 Photo by samsphotservices.com
LOS ANGELES — Kira Elliott had a pair of big doubles as the Occidental softball team rallied for six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to beat Whittier, 6-2 in the team's season finale at Bell Field on Saturday.
Elliott went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including the first two runs of a four-run fifth, and the second run during a two-run sixth.
Oxy lone senior Alex Battest closed out her career with an outstanding game, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
"We have a lot of gratitude for our senior leader because she entered our program and immediately helped change our culture for the better," Oxy head coach Ali Haehnel said. "She has been a great teammate, competitor and a joy to coach."
Mackensie Priley and Alexis Funaki each went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Natalie Glover was 1 for 2 with two runs scored.
Funaki started the game for Oxy, going the distance with just one earned run charged against her.
Oxy finishes the season at 13-25 overall, but with its best conference finish in program history. The Tigers were in contention for the four-team SCIAC Postseason Tournament right up until the final two days of the season and nearly doubled their previous best conference win total, going 11-17.
The previous best conference wins mark was six.
Oxy's biggest win of the season was a 3-2 victory over conference champion La Verne on April 8.
"We have a great group of hard-working student-athletes who really committed their efforts to the process of improving and preparing to compete in every way," Haehnel said. "They truly believed in themselves and in their preparation, and it showed on the field."
The Tigers can also now boast about having some of the best players in the SCIAC, all of which will return to the team in 2016.
Oxy first year center fielder Nyla Gatison finished third in the SCIAC in hitting (.380) and third in stolen bases (20), Oxy junior second baseman Mackensie Priley was sixth in on base percentage (.448), sophomore catcher Bailey Stevens was fifth in home runs (4), sophomore outfielder Kira Elliott hit .346 and sophomore shortstop Cora Roberts hit .330.
Arguably Oxy's best player was Alexis Funaki, who hit .309 with 15 RBIs and nine doubles, and was 6-4 in the circle with six complete games and the eighth best ERA in the league at 2.02.
Dallas Boyce was also an outstanding starting pitcher for Oxy, with four wins on the season and a 2.78 ERA in conference play.
"In terms of commitment, this team has set a new standard of excellence and we all have very high hopes for the future," Haehnel said.
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