SCF Softball Snaps Winning Streak With Split to Oakland

The SCF softball team (16-4) finished with a split against Oakland Community College (3-3) as they fell 7-5 (9) in the first game before winning 3-2 in the second game. With the split, the Manatees are now 13-1 against the Raiders.

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Madi LoCastro to the mound while Oakland head coach Jamie Corona sent sophomore Ysabela Soto to counter.

Both teams held each other scoreless in the first two innings, but LoCastro would buckle at the top of the third giving up two runs on two fielding errors, but the Manatees managed to make up for it in the bottom half. After the first two outs, freshman Kailey Christian would hit a double to left center to start a rally before LoCastro sent her home with a single to left to cut the deficit to one. Sophomore Haley McFadden drew a walk, the Manatees were able to take the lead from a double off the bat of sophomore Kyria Holcomb as she sent LoCastro and McFadden home.

The Manatees continued to hold onto the lead until the top of the seventh when freshman Ashley Zientek, who came in at the top of the fifth, gave the game-tying run from a hard ground ball hit by freshman Rachel Miller. The Manatees tried to get the game-winner, but were unable to do so and the game would go to extra innings and invoked the Texas Tiebreaker rule.

At the top of the eighth, the Raiders took the lead from a Soto bases loaded walk, but the Manatees were able to retie the game from an RBI double off the bat of freshman Sabrina Long and send the game to another extra inning.

At the top of the ninth, the Raiders got Zientek to buckle again with three runs off of two RBI singles from sophomores Amy Benson and Ali Magiera and a fielding error to make it 7-4 Oakland. The Manatees had one more try to at least tie the game as Christian hit an RBI single to make 7-5 Oakland, but it was all they could muster as the Raiders defeated SCF for the first time overall.

LoCastro would earn a no-decision after four innings. She gave four runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. At the plate, she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Zientek would be credited with the loss putting her at 5-3 on her record. Zientek would give up three runs on four hits while walking five and striking out two.

Soto would earn her second win of the season as she threw a nine inning complete game giving up five runs on 14 hits while walking four and striking out one.

Christian and fellow freshman Lauren Bostwick each had three hits. Christian added an RBI and a run while Bostwick added three stolen bases.

Along with LoCastro, Holcomb and Long each had two hits. Holcomb added two RBI and a stolen base, while Long added an RBI.

At the plate for Oakland, freshman Ivy Velazquez was the only Raider with a multi-hit game as she went 3-for-4 with two runs.

Game Two:
Hoping to bounce back, Schuerman sent Christian to the mound while Corona sent freshman Lanie Ellinger to counter.

Both Christian and Ellinger fought in a pitchers battle in the first two innings as they exchanged five strikeouts (Christian: 3, Ellinger: 2), but Ellinger would buckle first in the bottom of the third when sophomore Cheyenne Nunez grounded out to send freshman Nicci Palumbo, who hit a leadoff single, home to make it 1-0 SCF.

Christian continued to hold onto the 1-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth. In fact, Christian had a no-hitter going into the sixth until a leadoff triple from freshman Olivia Marasco set up Velazquez for a two-run home run to left to make it 2-1 Oakland.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Manatees had to fight hard to win the game and they did in success. After long flew out to start the inning, freshman Madelyn Graham would tie the game at 2-2 for the Manatees with a solo shot to center. This was Graham's first home run of the season. Palumbo would then hit a single to center before McFadden struck out. With two outs, freshman Makayla Benavidez would line a single to left in order to keep the rally alive for the Manatees. While sophomore Megan Seeds came in to pinch run for Palumbo, she was able to steal third to put SCF in a good chance to win the game with Nunez at the plate. With a 2-2 count, Nunez got what the Manatees deserved, a win with a game-winning RBI double, sending Seeds home for the win.

Christian would earn her eighth win of the season, putting her at 8-0. She threw a complete game, giving up the two runs on two hits while striking out nine batters.

Ellinger would go to 1-2 after the loss. Ellinger threw 6.2 innings and gave up all three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out five.

Palumbo and Long would both go 2-for-3 with Palumbo adding a run, while Nunez went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Nunez was the only Manatee with a multi-RBI game. Graham finished 1-for-3 with the home run.

Marasco and Velazquez were the only Raiders with a hit.

Notes:
1. SCF is 40-5 against non-Florida teams.

2. The win for Schuerman puts her career win total at 148.

Up Next:
The Manatees head back on the road as they travel to Gainsville to face Santa Fe Colleges (8-11) on Tuesday, February 26 at 2 and 4 pm.