SCF Softball Sends Santa Fe Marching

The SCF softball team (6-1) pulled away successfully in their home opening series as they defeated Santa Fe College (3-8) 4-2 and 8-0 (5). With the wins, the Manatees are now 19-7 against the Saints.

Game One:
For game one, SCF head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Ashley Zientek (1-1, 1.45 ERA) to the mound while Santa Fe head coach Lindsay Fico sent freshman Gabrielle Mathre (3-0, 2.80 ERA) to counter.

In the first inning, the Saints got on the board first after an RBI single from freshman Karina Ortiz-Munoz, but the Manatees managed to react to the task at hand. After sophomore Cheyenne Nunez was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half, sophomore Haley McFadden was able to tie the game with an RBI single to center, sending Nunez home to make it 1-1.

It would turn into a pitcher's battle betwee Zientek and Mathre going into the fourth, but then the Manatees managed to take the lead. After sophomore Kyria Holcomb began with a lead-off single before stealing second, sophomore Nicci Palumbo would crack an RBI single to right, sending Holcomb home to make it 2-1 SCF, but the game was then retied 2-2 in the fifth as sophomore Adriana Garip cracked an RBI to center.

After the Saints failed to score at the top of the seventh, it was now the Manatees' chance to secure the win. After Nunez popped out, the Manatees were able to get back-to-back singles off the bats of freshmen Makayla Benavidez and Sabrina Long, McFadden would be the hero and send both runners with a two-RBI double for the win.

Zientek would earn her second win of the season after throwing a complete game, giving up two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out five.

Mathre would earn her first loss after six innings, giving up all four runs (three earned) on nine hits with one strikeout.

Sophomore Jamie Adams also pitched, but did not get any innings.

Benavidez, McFadden and Palumbo each had two hits.

Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian (3-0, 3.08 ERA) to the mound, while Fico sent freshman Dontaysha Gobourne (0-4, 5.09 ERA) to counter.

In the first inning, the Manatees got off to a hot start and scored first. After Nunez drew a walk to lead-off the inning, Christian would hit an RBI single and send Nunez home to make it 1-0 SCF.

Before the Manatees continued to add on to the lead with a big bat, Fico made a substitution and sent sophomore Tihana Zupanic to the mound, but it was not pleasant for the Saints. After a lead-off single by Christian, freshman Madi LoCastro would line it deep to right field with a two-run shot. This was LoCastro's second home run of the season. Following LoCastro's home run, McFadden would hit an RBI single before sophomore Sydney Parks came in to pinch run before stealing second. Parks would then score after Long caused a Saint fielding error to make it 4-0 SCF.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints made another pitching change and sent Adams to the mound, but once again it had no effective for SCF. After a lead-off triple from Nunez, Benavidez would send Nunez home on a pop fly single. After a double from Christian, LoCastro would seal the deal and smack a three-run shot to center to make it 8-0 SCF. This was LoCastro's third home run of the season and the second of the game. The Saints tried to prevent from falling to the mercy rule, but to avail as the Manatees completed the sweep.

Christian would earn her fourth win of the season after throwing a five-inning shutout, giving up one hit while striking out eight. Christian was also 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.

Gobourne would earn her fifth loss of the season after giving up two runs on two hit with four walks in two innings.

Zupanic and Adams combined giving up six runs on seven hits in two innings.

LoCastro and McFadden had two hits each. LoCastro has all the Manatees' home runs so far this season.

Sophomore Adriana Garip had Santa Fe's lone hit as she was 1-for-2 with a double.

Up Next:
The Manatees return on the road as they travel to Melbourne to take on Eastern Florida State (2-8) on Friday, February 15 at 4 and 6 pm before traveling to Miami to take on Miami Dade College (3-7) on Saturday, February 16 at noon and 2 pm.