SCF Softball Beats Miami Dade, Continues Winning Streak

The SCF softball team (10-1) continue to be on the roll as they defeated Miami Dade College (3-9) 9-2 in game one and 12-2 (5) in game two. With the win, the Manatees are 15-10 against the Sharks.

Game One:
For Game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent sophomore Megan Seeds while MDC head coach Gina De Aguero sent freshman Katerina Boix to counter.

The Sharks opened the door in the bottom of the first after an RBI single off the bat of freshman Dekoda Johnson, but at the top of the second, the Manatees took the lead. Freshman Madi LoCastro began with a lead-off single before moving to second on a passed ball. After sophomore Kyria Holcomb drew a walk before she and LoCastro advanced to second and third, sophomore Lauren Bostwick hit a sacrifice fly and sent LoCastro home to make it 1-1, but then sophomore Nicci Palumbo would give SCF lead with an RBI single and sent Holcomb home.

The Manatees would then increase the lead at the top of the third after a two-out double from freshman Kailey Christian before LoCastro cracked a double and sent LoCastro home to make it 3-1 SCF.

After a scoreless fourth, the Sharks made a pitching change as sophomore Tiffany Dodson came i in for relief. The Manatees continued to extend the lead in the fifth. Beginning with back-to-back fielding errors from hard ground balls hit by freshman Makayla Benavidez and Christian and a LoCastro walk to load the bases, Holcomb hit a sacrifice fly and send in Benavidez and Christian home to make it 5-1. The lead would grow even more as freshman Sabrina Long hit a two-run shot to make it 7-1. This was her first home run of the season. After Bostwick reached first on a fielding error and Palumbo drew a walk, sophomore Madison Yoder would send Bostwick home with an RBI groundout to make it 8-1 SCF.

While Christian came in for Seeds in the sixth, the Sharks would get their second run from a home run off the bat of sophomore Melissa Mayeux, but the Manatees would add one final run in the seventh after Yoder hit an RBI single to send Holcomb home to make it 9-2.

Seeds would earn her first win of the season after throwing four innings, giving up one run on seven hits with one walk one and six strikeouts.

Christian threw the remaining three innings and gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts. Christian also went 1-for-4 with two runs scored.

Boix would be credited with her second loss of the season after three innings where she gave up three runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Dodson gave up six runs (one earned) on three hits while walking three batters.

LoCastro was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Holcomb (0-for-1, two walks, two runs scored) and Long (1-for-3, one walk) had two RBI each.

Sophomores Melissa Mayeux (3-for-3, one run, one RBI and one stolen base) and Eliza Artiles (4-for-4, one run and one stolen base) were the only Sharks with multi-hit games in game one.

Game Two:
Schuerman sent LoCastro to the mound while De Augero sent freshman Arianna Arroyo to counter.

It did not take very long for the Manatees to score at the top of the first. After sophomore Cheyenne Nunez was hit by a pitch to start the inning before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Christian would send Nunez home with an RBI single to make it 1-0 SCF. After back-to-back walks drawn by LoCastro and sophomore Haley McFadden to load the bases, Holcomb would send Christian home with an RBI single to make it 2-0 SCF.

While the Sharks got on the board in the bottom of the first after a sacrifice fly from Mayeux, the Manatees would add a third run at the top of the second after Nunez sent Bostwick home with a fielder's choice. Bostwick stole second and third base prior to scoring.

The top of the third inning looked to be a nightmare for the Sharks. After three straight fielding errors that came off the bats of McFadden, Holcomb and Long to load the bases, Palumbo would draw a bases loaded walk and send McFadden home. Another Shark fielding error from a hard ground ball by Bostwick sent Holcomb home and reloaded the bases for Nunez. Nunez would send a single to left and bring in Long to make it 6-1 SCF. Benavidez would then reach first on a fielder's choice when Palumbo was called out at home, the Manatees continue to add to the lead as Christian would send Bostwick and Nunez home with a two-RBI single to make it 8-1.

The Manatees batted around after LoCastro was hit by a pitch to load the bases for McFadden, who leadoff the top of the third. Benavidez would score on a passed ball and to make it 9-1, while Christian and LoCastro advance a base each. McFadden would send Christian on a hard ground ball with another Shark fielding error to make it 10-1. Holcomb would add one more run at the top of the third with a sacrifice fly that sent LoCastro.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees added their final run of the game after LoCastro drew a bases loaded walk and sent Nunez home to make it 12-1, while the Sharks sent Dodson to the mound to stop the Manatees from scoring in success. The Sharks added their final run off of a groundout from freshman Ashley Knapp as the Manatees pulled away with the win via the mercy rule.

LoCastro would earn her first win of the season after throwing five inning complete game, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out two batters. LoCastro was 0-for-1 with an RBI and two walks.

Arroyo would end up with her third loss of the season after throwing innings, giving up 12 runs (three earned) on five hits while walking eight and striking out one. Arroyo is now 1-3 in the season.

Dodson threw two scoreless innings of relief.

Christian was the only Manatee with multi-hit game for game two as she went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Nunez and Holcomb finished 1-for-3 with two RBI each. Nunez also added three runs and two stolen bases.

Artiles was the only Shark in game two with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a run.

Fielding wise, the Sharks committed a combined 12 errors in both games in contrast to SCF's four. Eight of them were committed by Mayeux and Dodson (four each).

Up Next:
The Manatees return home for the second home series as they face Lake Sumter on Tuesday, February 19 at 4 and 6 pm.