WHITTIER, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2025)
Game 1: Occidental 6, Whittier 4
A wild first game of Saturday’s doubleheader saw the Poets outhit the Tigers but come up short on the scoreboard. Redshirt junior Kelly Nutter (Carlsbad, Calif. / La Costa Canyon / Cal State San Marcos | Palomar College), who announced her intention to return to for her final year of eligibility next year, crossed home plate three times and walked twice. She was a benefactor of some timely hitting from the younger Rivas sister, who plated three runs on the back of a 3-for-3 game at the dish. Two of those hits went for extra bases — a double and a triple; and she was not the only Poet to register three hits in the first game. Senior outfielder Sara Luna (Downey, Calif. / Downey) also picked up a trio of hits and got to flash the signature speed she’s become known for with a stolen base.
In spite of this, the Tigers were able to avoid the one big inning from the Poets that would have blown the game open. Whittier ultimately left 11 runners on base and though they walked a collective six times as a team, the Tigers were able to manuever around them and earn the series in the first game of Saturday’s two-game set. Three Whittier pitchers combined over the seven inning game, including senior Daryanna Ductoc (Alhambra, Calif. / Ramona Convent Secondary School / Los Angeles Mission) and junior Bella Peinado (Ventura, Calif. / Ventura), who held the Tigers scoreless over the game’s final three innings.
Head Coach Terry Schweikert and the Poets will finish out the 2025 regular season with a three-game series against the University of La Verne. The Poets will host the first game of the series on Friday, May 2 at 3 p.m.Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
