SCF Softball Splits at Santa Fe

The SCF softball team (17-5) ended their series with Santa Fe College (9-12) with a split winning the first game 3-0 before falling 4-1 in the second game, Despite the loss, the Manatees ultimately won the series 3-1. With the split, the Manatees are now 20-8 against the Saints.

Game One:
For game one, SCF head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound while Santa Fe head coach Lindsay Fico sent freshman Gabrielle Mathre to counter.

It became a pitcher's duel between Christian and Mathre until Mathre buckled at the top of the third. After freshman Makayla Benavidez drew a leadoff walk before being called out on a fielder's choice from sophomore Cheyenne Nunez, Christian would open the gates for the Manatees as she ripped a double to center, sending home Nunez to make it 1-0 SCF.

While Mathre continued to deal being down by a run, Christian zipped through innings 3-6 with at least one strikeout with no problem. Mathre still continued to fight and get out of jams caused by SCF.

At the top of the seventh, the Manatees decided to add some insurance runs to the mix. After the first two outs, Christian would get a single to start it off. After sophomore Haley McFadden drew a walk, freshman Madi LoCastro would hit a hard single to center and send Christian home to make it 2-0, but it wasn't enough as sophomore Kyria Holcomb sent sophomore Sydney Parks, who came in to pinch run for McFadden, home to make it 3-0 SCF.

In the bottom of the seventh, Christian was unfazed and was able to finish the game for the win despite giving up a two-out single.

Christian would earn her ninth win after throwing a three-hit shutout while walking two batters and striking out 11. This was Christian's third shutout of the season and second game with at 11 strikeouts. Christian was also 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Mathre would earn the loss, putting her at 5-6 for the season. Mathre threw a complete game, giving up all three runs on seven hit while walking five and striking out three.

Holcomb was the only other Manatee with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Santa Fe's three hits came off the bats of sophomore Adriana Garip and freshmen Alanis Mercado and Dontaysha Gobourne.

The win was Schuerman's 149th win of the season.

Game Two:
Schuerman sent freshman Ashley Zientek to the mound while Fica sent sophomore Tihana Zupanic.

The Saints would score the first run in the bottom of the first after a sacrifice fly from freshman Karina Ortiz-Munoz and then in the third inning from a McFadden fielding error to make it 2-0.

The Manatees would get on the board at the top of the fifth off of an RBI single from Nunez that sent Zientek home, but the Saints managed to add two more runs from a solo shot by sophomore Cameron Trehy and a Ortiz-Munoz RBI single before the game was called in the sixth due to the weather.

Zupanic would earn her second win of the season, putting her at 2-2. Zupanic threw a complete game, giving up the lone run on three hits while walking two and striking out two.

Zientek would be dealt with her third loss, putting her at 5-3. Zientek would give up all four runs on five while walking three and striking out one.

Nunez, Parks and freshman Nicci Palumbo had the Manatees' lone hits.

Garip was the only Saint with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-2.

Trehy's home run was her third of the season.

Up Next:
The Manatees return home for another series as they welcome Eastern Florida State (9-9) to the SCF Softball Complex. Schuerman will be looking for her 150th career win as head coach for SCF.