SCF Softball Splits Day Two, Finishes JUCO Kickoff 3-1

The SCF softball team (3-1) wrapped up the JUCO Kickoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Florida with a split as they fell 7-6 to Miami Dade (2-2) before defeating DII Pasco-Hernando State (2-2) 11-8. With the split, the Manatees are 13-10 overall against the Sharks while against the Bobcats, they are 3-0.

Game One:
Head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to mound while MDC head coach Gina De Aguero sent fellow freshman Arianna Arroyo to counter.

At the top of the first, the Manatees got on the board early. After a lead-off double from sophomore Cheyenne Nunez and back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore Kyria Holcomb and Christian, freshman Madi LoCastro would reach base on a fielding error and bring in Nunez for the first run of the game. Freshman Sabrina Long would then hit a bases-loaded single and send Holcomb home to make it 2-0 SCF before sophomore Sydney Parks brought in LoCastro home on a groundout to make it 3-0 SCF.

At the top of the second, the Manatees added on to the lead. Sophomore Megan Seeds began the inning with a lead-off walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. From there, Holcomb sent Seeds home on a sacrifice bunt to make it 4-0 SCF. This was also was the signal to pull Arroyo out before the third inning and send freshman Katerina Boix to the mound.

The Manatees continued to hold the Sharks scoreless until a solo home run off the bat of freshman Dekoda Johnson in the bottom of the second put them on the board.

The Sharks cut the deficit to one run after back-to-back RBI singles from Boix and sophomore Lishanty Guillermo to make it 4-3 SCF.

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees extended the deficit further. LoCastro reached first on a fielding error to start the inning. After freshman Lauren Bostwick came in to pinch run for LoCastro in which she stole second, Long would send Bostwick all the way home with an RBI double to make it 5-3 SCF. Sophomore Haley McFadden would then reach first on another Shark fielding error, sending Long to third before being picked off and McFadden stealing a base. Parks would then send McFadden home on an RBI triple to make it 6-3 SCF.

After freshman Ashlee Zientek came in for Christian, the Sharks would cut the deficit to two runs after an RBI single by sophomore Erika Yatabe in the bottom of the fifth before cutting it to one after another Guillermo RBI single.

The Manatees failed to extend the lead in the seventh and eventually dropped the game after two fielding errors for their first loss.

Christian and Arroyo would earn a no decision each. Christian gave up three runs on five hits while striking out two batters in four innings, while Arroyo gave up four runs (two earned) on two hits, walking four batters and striking out three in two innings.

Boix would be credited with the win after throw five innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four.

Zientek would be credited with the loss after two innings. Zientek gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out six.

Long was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

Parks had two RBI after going 1-for-4.

Game Two:
To make up for the loss, Schuerman sent LoCastro to the mound to face while PHSC head coach Thomas A. Ryan sent sophomore Rene Lopez to counter.

At the top of the first, LoCastro struggled through against the Bobcats as she gave up four runs off of an RBI double from sophomore Savannah Hicks, two RBI singles from freshman Tierra Riley and sophomore Alyssa Baratta and an RBI groundout from freshman Andrea Del Toro.

At the top of the second, LoCastro was pulled after a fielding error from sophomore Cheyenne Nunez made it 6-0 PHSC and Christian was sent to the mound. Hicks would would the extend the lead with a sacrifice to make it 7-0.

In the bottom of second, the Manatees were able to get on the board. Beginning with back-to-back singles from McFadden and Holcomb and a fielder's choice from freshman Madelyn Graham, freshman Makayla Benavidez would hit a single to load the bases for Nunez. With a 1-2 count, Nunez would strike a double to left and send McFadden and Graham home and make it 7-2 PHSC. After Botswick reached base on a fielding error to load the bases, Christian would bring in Benavidez home on a sacrifice/double play after Nunez was out attempting to advance to third.

The Bobcats would extend the lead to 8-3 after an RBI single from Hicks, which would be their

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would then cut the deficit to one. After back-to-back-to-back singles from Holcomb, Graham and Benavidez, Nunez would send Holcomb home and reload the bases to make it 8-4 PHSC. After Botswick struck out, Christian would ground into a fielder's choice and send Graham home. After LoCastro drew a walk to reload the bases, Ryan would pull Lopez out and send sophomore Diana Rayder to the mound. Long would crack a single to center and send Benavidez and Christian home to make it 8-7 still in favor of PHSC.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees managed to find the moment to take the lead. After Graham drew a walk before Seeds came in to pinch run and Benavidez hit a single, Nunez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. While Botswick struck out, Christian would then get hit by a pitch and bring in Seeds to tie the game at 8-8.

After Lopez reentered the game to replace Rayder, LoCastro would get hit by a pitch and send Benavidez home to give SCF a 9-8 lead before being replaced by sophomore Jaylin Gant. The Manatees would add two more insurance runs with back-to-back bases-loaded walks drawn by Long and McFadden. From there, the Bobcats were unable to score as the Manatees pulled away with the win.

LoCastro would earn a no-decision after only one inning as she gave up six runs (three earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out one.

Christian would be credited with her second win of the season after six innings as she gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking three and striking out seven.

For the Bobcats, Lopez would earn a no-decision after 3.1 innings. Lopez gave up five runs (four earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out one.

Rayder would be credited with the loss after giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out one batter in one inning.

Grant threw 1.2 scoreless innings and gave up two hits while walking two and striking out one.

Four Manatees each had a multi-game. Benavidez finished 4-for-4 with four singles and three runs scored while Nunez (2-for-3 one run and walk), McFadden (2-for-3, one RBI, one run and one walk) and Holcomb (2-for-4, one run) finished with two hits each. Nunez, Christian and Long (0-for-3, two runs) finished with three RBI each.

Up Next:
SCF heads to Fort Lauderdale as they face Broward College (4-0) for a doubleheader on Saturday, February 2 at 1 and 3 pm.