CLAREMONT, Calif. - Riley Cooper was 2-for-3 with a two-run double, but Whittier pitcher Bella Peinado allowed just three hits in a complete game win as the Poets softball team took an 8-3 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday at Athena Field. 

With the loss, CMS slips to 13-15-1 overall on the year, as well as 4-9 in the SCIAC, while Whittier improves to 18-14 and 6-7 in league play. 

Alex Wedemeyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to give CMS a 1-0 lead, but Whittier tied it in the second and then scored four times in the third to take a 5-1 lead. 

Cooper then came through with a two-out, two-run double in the fourth to close the gap to 5-3 and give the Athenas some life, but Whittier was able to score three more times in the fifth. 

Cooper and Danica Stirling strung together a pair of one-out singles in the seventh to attempt a late comeback, but Delanie Stevens hit a line drive that picked off the shoetops by second baseman Kelly Nutter, who ran to second to compete the double play and end the contest. 

The two teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Whittier.