SCF Softball Opens JUCO Kickoff 2-0

The SCF softball team (2-0) opened up the season with a strong start in the JUCO Kickoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Florida as they defeated College of Central Florida (CCF) 6-5 and Pensacola State College (6-2). With the wins, the Manatees are now 11-15 against the Patriots (3-1) and 1-1 against the Pirates (1-1) (2012-Present)

Game One:
For game one against the Patriots, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to mound while CCF head coach Kevin Fagan sent freshman Kelsie Rivers to counter.

After a scoreless first inning, the Manatees loaded the bases after back-to-back singles from sophomore Haley McFadden and freshman Sabrina Long and a walk drawn by sophomore Nicci Palumbo. From there, McFadden would score off of a single from classmate Megan Seeds to make it 1-0 SCF in the second inning. The Manatees tried to add to the lead off of a single from sophomore Cheyenne Nunez, but was stopped after Long was thrown out at home.

The Manatees were able to hold on to the 1-0 lead until the Patriots took the lead in the bottom of the fourth after a two-run single off the bat of sophomore Elaina Lukas and a two-run homer from freshman Olivia Simon made it 4-1 CCF.

At the top of the fifth, SCF was able to tie the game back up. Nunez would start with a lead-off infield single. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Sydney Parks and a walk drawn by Christian, freshman Madi LoCastro would cut the deficit to one with a one-out double to send Nunez and Christian home. With the score 4-3, still in favor of CCF, sophomore Kyria Holcomb would tie the game to 4-4 and send LoCastro home on a sacrifice fly.

The Patriots would regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth after freshman Emily Figueroa scored on a passed ball to make it 5-4 CCF.

At the top of the sixth, Fagan pulled Rivers out and sent freshman Barbara Cook to the mound. The Manatees would then retie the game. After Nunez drew a walk and Parks was hit by a pitch, Christian would send Nunez home on a single to make it 5-5.

Coming down to the final inning, the Manatees managed to retake the lead. After McFadden started with a lead-off single, Long would send her over to second with a sacrifice bunt for Palumbo. Palumbo would clock a ground ball to Cook, but was able to reach first on the error and send McFadden home to make it 6-5 SCF, which would be the decider and the win.

Christian was credited with the win after a complete game, giving up all five runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three. Christian was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Rivers would earn a no decision after throwing five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out three.

Cook would earn the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks in two innings.

McFadden finished 3-for-3 with two runs and a walk, while Nunez finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base. LoCastro finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and was the only Manatee with a extra base hit and multi-RBI game.

Game Two:
For game two against Pensacola State, Schuerman sent freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound while Pensacola State head coach Lyndsey Angus sent redshirt sophomore Savannah Foster to counter.

At the top of the third, the Pirates would score the first run of the game after a double from redshirt sophomore Kaeleen Koehler drove in freshman Destiny Pacetti, but the Manatees would tie the game after a solo home run to left off the bat of LoCastro. This was her first collegiate home run of her career.

At the top of the fifth, the Pirates would regain the lead. After a two-out single from freshman Madison Myers, fellow freshman Ashley Valencia would send Myers home after a fielding error from Nunez to make it 2-1 PSC before Valencia was picked off at third trying to extend the lead.

The Manatees would then tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. After a lead-off walk drawn by freshman Lauren Bostwick and back-to-back sacrifice bunts from Nunez and Long, Holcomb would send Botswick home with an RBI single to make it 2-2.

After a scoreless top half of the sixth, the Manatees found the momentum they needed in the bottom half. After a one-out single from Parks, Zientek would clock a double to center and send Parks home and give the Manatees a 3-2 lead, which also signaled the end for Foster as Angus sent sophomore Shayne O'Connell to the mound.

After freshman Makayla Benavidez came in to pinch run for Zientek, Bostwick would then bring in Benavidez with an RBI double of her own to make it 4-2 SCF. Nunez would extended the lead further as she sent Bostwick home after reaching base on a fielding error before Long sent Nunez home with an RBI single to make it 6-2 SCF and the win.

Zientek earned the win after throw a complete game, giving up two unearned runs on four hits while striking out five. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.

Foster would be credited with the loss after 5.1 innings. Foster gave up four runs on six hits while walking three batters and striking out one.

O'Connell pitched two-thirds of an inning and give up two unearned runs on two hits while walking two and striking out one.

LoCastro finished 1-for-3 with the solo home run.

Notes:
The first two games for Christian, Long, LoCastro, Bostwick, Zientek, Benavidez and Graham were their official debuts.

Up Next:
The Manatees return to action for day two of the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater on Saturday, January 26 as they face Miami Dade College at 3:20 pm and Pasco-Hernando State at 6 pm.

Series History:
As of 2012, the Manatees are 13-9 against MDC and 2-0 against PHSC.