The Whitworth Pirates attempted to send Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) to Davy Jones’ locker but the Sagehens left with only a few feathers ruffled. On Feb. 16 at Wig Beach field, the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) softball team took the morning game against Whitworth in a 5-0 shutout but were unable to sweep them in the afternoon and went down in a 4-2 defeat.
In the second game of the Hens’ second series of the preseason, the Pirates were up to bat first. Erica Rivera PZ ’24 entered the pitching circle for the Sagehens. Fired up and ready for revenge from the morning’s defeat, the Pirates stood on business and pulled the first pitch of the game for a double down the line.
Although Rivera was able to find some footing in the next at bat, earning her first strikeout of the season, she was soon put on the backfoot by Whitworth’s number three hitter. Connecting on a ball right down the pipe, the batter took Rivera deep, driving in two runs with a homer soaring over the fence in left-center.
Rivera struggled to find control for the rest of the inning as she walked in a third run and gave up another hit, but was able to notch two more strikeouts and strand three ducks on the pond, getting herself out of the first inning jam.
Coach JoAnne Ferguson said that she noticed the team’s waning motivation after the top of the first, but drove home the necessity of not letting a rough start keep them down.
“When we’re in that zone, we need to feel the rhythm and keep the pulse with each at-bat,” Ferguson said. “We should always be playing defense like it’s a 0-0 game and we should always be hungry and aggressive with our offense.”
After a 40 minute top of the first, the Sagehens came into the batter’s box with fire. Leading off for the Hens was Kylie Liu PO ’26, who swung on the first pitch and brought life back to the bench. After this jumpstart, the Hens were able to load the bases, but a strikeout stranded three to end the inning.
The Sagehens called on their bullpen in the second inning, swapping out Rivera for Nyla Springer PO ’27, making her third appearance this preseason. Springer forced three outs from the Pirates and stranded a runner, bringing the Sagehens into the bottom of the inning with the momentum on their side.
Springer attributed her success partially to her catcher, Kylie Liu PO ’26.
“I haven’t pitched in games that much but me and Kylie, we talk at practice, within games I really feel her support,” Springer said. “I know that she is there for me.”
Energized from Springer’s dominance in the circle, Bella Carreon PO ’25 smoked a single down the left field line and Liu worked a walk before Natalie Murguia PO ’26 brought them both home with a double that kissed the warning track.
“Natalie did a great job for us offensively and defensively,” Ferguson said. “ She really stepped up for us.”
Springer continued to have success, allowing only one run over the next five innings. Liu said she was impressed by Springer’s performance and confidence despite this being her first season with the team.
“I know being a freshman is something that rattles a lot of people,” Liu said. “But having her out there and pitching her game was really good for us.”
The bench exploded with cheers for the rest of the game as the Hens urged on their batters and found consistent contact, earning ten hits over the course of the game.
However, the Sagehens struggled to take advantage of their high leverage scenarios, grounding out and flying out 16 combined times and stranding nine batters on base over the course of the game.
The seven innings ended in a loss for the Sagehens with a final score of 4-2.
Springer commented on what she felt the Sagehens could build on in their next game.
“I think we need to focus on hitting hard liners instead of pop ups and just getting the ball down more,” Springer said.
The Hens are gearing up for the start of conference play and will wrap up their preseason in a double-header against Hope International University on Saturday, Feb. 24.
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