CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer softball team split with Bethel University 5-3 in the first game and 3-2 in the second game at home.
Season Impact: With the split, the Sagehens are 10-4 overall and 4-2 in SCIAC conference play.
Game 1:
Kylie Liu, Deven Waddell, and Brooke Bullis led the Sagehens in hits, Liu went 2/3 with three RBIs and Waddell and Bullis both went 2/4.
The Sagehens struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Waddell led off with a double down the left-field line. Liu followed with a two-run home run to left field, giving the Sagehens an early 2-0 advantage. Bethel was held scoreless through the first three innings, managing just two hits off of the Sagehen pitching. Bethel finally broke through in the fourth. After a pair of singles, an error by the Sagehens' defense allowed one run to score. A wild pitch later in the inning brought home another run, tying the game at 2-2.The Sagehens had a chance to regain the lead in the bottom half, but a runner was stranded on third after Bethel's defense tightened up. In the top of the sixth, Bethel's offense came alive and extended the lead to 5-2. The Sagehens made a pitching change, bringing in Nyla Springer to stop the rally, and she successfully retired the next two batters to prevent further damage. The Sagehens threatened in the seventh inning when Summer Gibson singled up the middle and advanced to second on a single by Waddell. Liu then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Gibson to make it 5-3. However, Bethel's defense shut the door, forcing two flyouts to center field to seal the win.
Game 2:
Morgan Groves was the only Sagehen to have a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 at the plate. Emily Hurtado (2) and Sophia Roberts (1) both notched RBIs. Nyla Springer was lights out in the circle for the Sagehens, pitching all seven innings and only giving up six hits while striking out six.
Both teams struggled to get their offenses going in the first two innings.The Sagehen's defense was sharp, and pitcher Springer recorded three strikeouts in the second inning to keep Bethel off the board. The Sagehens capitalized in the third inning. After a single from Groves and a throwing error that allowed Heather Hennigh to reach third, Summer Gibson came in to pinch run. With two outs, Hurtado delivered a clutch two-run double to center field, bringing home both runners and giving the Sagehens a 2-0 lead.
Bethel threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Springer worked out of the jam with a big strikeout to maintain the lead. The Sagehens tacked on another run in the sixth when Bella Carreon singled to right center and later scored on a pinch-hit infield single by Sophia Roberts. That gave Pomona-Pitzer a 3-0 cushion heading into the final frame. Bethel did not back down and in the seventh inning they launched a two-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Royals' bats got hot too late and the Sagehen defense came through with a game-ending flyout to secure the win.
Up Next: The Sagehens will take on Whitworth University at home for a double-header on Friday (3/21). First pitch is scheduled at 12:00 p.m. PT.
