SCF Softball Sweeps EFSC, Extends to 8-1

The SCF softball team (8-1) pulled away with another series win as they defeated Eastern Florida State (2-10) 6-4 and 4-3 at the EFSC Softball Complex in Melbourne, Florida. With the sweep, the Manatees are 6-0 against the Titans.

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound while EFSC head coach Jim Beitia sent sophomore Olivia Everett to counter.

The Manatees started off shaky in the second inning after Christian gave up a two-run shot off the bat of sophomore Nikki Pennington, a transfer from FGCU. It didn't get any better for Christian as she then gave up an RBI single to sophomore Caitlin Meyer.

The Manatees were finally to get on the board at the top of the fourth. After freshman Madi LoCastro drew a lead-off walk before fellow freshman Sabrina Long came in to pinch run and reached third on a fielding error from a hard ground ball. After sophomore Kyria Holcomb reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, LoCastro would hit a sacrifice fly and send Long home to cut the Titans' lead to 3-1.

The Titans would add another run to make it 4-1 from a double play and continued to hold the lead in the fifth inning. The Manatees then found the moment they needed to start a rally. Sophomore Haley McFadden began the rally with a lead-off single before freshman Lauren Bostwick came in to pinch run and steal second. Long would then hit a hard RBI single to center and send in Bostwick to cut the lead to 4-2 EFSC.

Holcomb would then reach first on a fielding error while Long advanced to third, which set up an RBI single for sophomore Nicci Palumbo to send Long home to make it 4-3 EFSC. Classmate Madison Yoder would then load the bases, which signaled the end for Everett.

Beitia would send freshman Katelyn Wilfert to the mound to face sophomore Cheyenne Nunez. Nunez would tie the game at 4-4 and send Holcomb home on a fielder's choice. The Manatees would finally take the lead as freshman Makayla Benavidez would hit an RBI single and send Palumbo home to make it 5-4 SCF. The Manatees would then one more run for "insurance" as Christian drove an RBI double, sending Nunez home.

The Titans would fail to score in the final two innings as SCF pulled away with the win.

Christian would earn her fifth win after a complete game. Christian gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six. At the plate, Christian went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Everett would earn her fourth loss after five innings, giving up all six runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

Wilfert would throw two scoreless innings giving up three hits and striking out two batters.

Along with Christian, Benavidez and McFadden also had a multi-hit game. Benavidez would go 3-for-4 with an RBI while McFadden went 2-for-3.

Meyer was the only Titan with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound, while Beitia sent Wilfert to counter.

At the top of the first, the Manatees would get on the board first. Nunez would start with a lead-off single before advancing to second on a throw. After Nunez stole third, Christian would send her home on a fielding error to make it 1-0 SCF. After LoCastro reached base on a fielder's choice while Christian. McFadden would then send Christian home on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0 SCF.

The Manatees would make it 3-0 after Christian sent Nunez, who hit a lead-off triple, home on a sacrifice fly and then made it 4-0 after Zientek hit into a groundout to bring in freshman Alexis Bridges.

The Manatees managed to hold the Titans scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when freshman Madison Neuhaus hit a two-RBI double and Wilfert had an RBI fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 4-3 SCF, but that was all they could produce as failed to tie or win the game in the seventh.

Zientek would earn her third win of the season after a four-hit complete game while giving up all three runs, walking three batters and striking out three.

Wilfert would be credited with with her third loss of the season putting her at 1-3. Wilfert would throw a complete game while giving up all four runs, walking one and striking out two.

Christian was the only Manatee in game two to have a multi-RBI game as she finished 1-for-3 with two RBI while Nunez was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base. In addition, Nunez earned her 30th career stolen base.

Neuhaus was the only Titan with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3.

Up Next:
The Manatees remain on the road as they head to Miami to face Miami Dade College (3-7) on Saturday, February 16 at 1 and 3 pm.