THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On a sunny Sunday afternoon the Cal Lutheran softball team fell 6-4 and 13-3 at Hutton Field in league play at the hands of the Whittier Poets.
Box Score (Game 1): WC 6, CLU 4 - F
Box Score (Game 2): WC 13, CLU 3 - F/6
Game one was a back and forth battle between the Regals and Poets. The teams were both scoreless in the first frame before exchanging runs in each the second and third. CLU took a lead in the fourth, but WC reclaimed that advantage in the fifth and held on for the win. The teams combined for 24 hits, but the Poets and Regals left nine and 14 runners on base, respectively.
Defensive miscues hurt the Regals in the first inning as two reached on errors, but a line drive at Liz Mertel turned into a double play when she tagged third base for the first two outs of the frame. Mertel finished with four putouts and five assists in the game.
Saturday's hot bats came alive again on Sunday with back-to-back hits to start off the bottom of the second. Brittany Labbe and Sarah Lichtsinn doubled and singled, respectively, before Mertel layed down a sacrifice bunt, plating Labbe.
In the third, after WC had regained the lead on three hits, including a leadoff triple, CLU again evened the score. The Regals collected three hits in the inning with Kathleen Watson-Otani singling and scoring on a Danika Green single to the opposite field. Katelyn Downing earned an infield bunt single for her second hit of the game.
The Regals again led off the fourth with a hit as Mertel singled to right and moved to second on a Ryanna Morua sacrifice bunt. She was eliminated on a fielder's choice, but Kayla Sakamoto was safe at first. A WC throwing error allowed Watson-Otani to reach and the speedy Sakamoto to round the bases and slide home to put the home squad on top 3-2.
Whittier retook the lead, for good, in the fifth on a two-RBI double by Jordan Learn after a pair of singles.
Nicolby Atallah got the start in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs, all earned, on 11 hits. She did not walk a batter. Sakamoto took over on the mound in the top of the sixth and got an interesting second out. On a pitch up and behind the batter, she ducked but the ball met the bat and ended up in fair territory with Sakamoto fielding and throwing down to Labbe for the out.
CLU loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but upon the return of Courtney DeLano to the rubber, the Regals were unable to manufacture a run.
The Poets tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a double, two singles and CLU error. The inning ended with another fantastic play by Mertel at third on a hard hit ground ball as she tagged third for the force and threw across the diamond getting the runner at first.
With one more chance, Lichtsinn stroked an RBI double to left, cutting the deficit to a pair with no one down. Downing stepped up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and made DeLano work, fouling off 10 pitches in a 13-pitch at bat, which ended with a pop up to short.
In game two, Whittier scored 13 runs on 14 hits and three CLU errors while the Regals plated three on just four hits and a pair of WC errors.
Whittier batted around in the first inning, scoring four runs off the bat. They would add one in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.
CLU came back in the bottom of the fourth to score three runs. Shannon Tinsley layed down a bunt single on a suicide squeeze to score Lichtsinn who led off with a walk. Mertel doubled in both Tinsley and Morua, who pinch ran for Green after she reached on a fielder's choice.
The Poets countered with three more of their own in the top of the fifth on three hits and a pair of CLU errors. Starting pitcher, Downing (4-14) swapped places with Sakamoto in the middle of the inning. Downing was charged with eight runs, although only three were earned. Sakamoto surrendered five.
After WC scored four more in the sixth, Sakamoto returned to centerfield and Atallah came off the bench to take the ball. The Poets would score five in the frame to take a 13-3 lead and lock up the win.
Overall today, Lichtsinn and Mertel were each 2-for-5 with a combined three walks and four RBIs. Downing, Green and Sakamoto had two hits apiece on the day as well. Watson-Otani stole two bases in two chances and Labbe, Tinsley and Morua each swiped a bag as well.
At second base Lichtsinn played errorless softball with four assists and two putouts. At third, Mertel finished with seven assists and four putouts. CLU turned three double plays today.
For Whittier, Learn was 6-for-7 with seven RBIs while Denisse Martinez was 5-for-7. The duo combined for five runs. Rosnack got both wins after throwing 5.0 total innings and not allowing a run.
Cal Lutheran (11-27, 4-18 SCIAC) will conclude their 2012 campaign on Saturday, April 21 against Pomona-Pitzer at Hutton Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. following senior recognitions.
