SCF Softball Sweeps South Florida State on the Road

The SCF softball team (28-8, 4-0 Suncoast) pulled away with their second sweep in Suncoast Conference play as they swept South Florida State College (22-10, 2-2 Suncoast) 8-6 in the first game and 3-1 in the second game. With the wins, the Manatees are now 26-5 against the Panthers.

Game One:
SCF head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound, while SFSC head coach Carlos Falla III sent freshman Baylee Haggard to start.

It did not take long for the Manatees to take the lead at the top of the first. Beginning with back-to-back walks drawn by sophomores Cheyenne Nunez and Megan Seeds before freshman Madelyn Graham loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch for sophomore Haley McFadden. With a full count, McFadden would send Nunez home with an RBI single to left. Following McFadden's single, freshman Sabrina Long would hit a two-RBI single that sent Seeds and Graham home to make it 3-0. Christian would extend the Manatees' lead with a two-RBI double, sending McFadden and Long home to make it 5-0 SCF.

In the bottom of the third, the Panthers' bats started to show some light after a two-run homer off the bat of sophomore Kaylee Frascatore for her second home run of the season. Two batters later, freshman Amanda Crisafulli would chip a sac fly that was later issued as a double play to end the inning.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees were able to add another run as sophomore Sydney Parks scored on a fielding error to make it 6-3, but then the Panthers would tie the game in the bottom half after a two-RBI double from sophomore Raylee Coleman and an RBI single from Frascatore made 6-6.

With a scoreless fifth, the Manatees looked for magic at the top of the sixth. Beginning with a lead-off single from Parks and Nunez reaching on fielding error before both runners advanced to second and third respectively on a fielding error and a wild pitch, Seeds would give the Manatees the lead with a sacrifice fly, sending Parks home to make it 7-6 SCF. The Manatees were then able to add an insurance run from a squeeze play from Graham that sent Nunez home to make it 8-6 SCF and eventually the win.

Christian would earn the win after throwing a complete game, giving up all six runs (five earned) on nine hits, walking two and striking out five while going 2-for-4 at the plate. Christian is now at 16-1 for the season.

Haggard would earn the loss, putting her at 10-4 on the season. Haggard threw a complete game, giving up all eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits while also walking two and striking out five.

Along with Christian, McFadden (2-for-4, one RBI), Long (2-for-2, two RBI) and Parks (2-for-4, two runs scored) also had a multi-hit game.

Freshman Jane'a Mobley led the Panthers in hits as she finished 3-for-4 while Frascatore and Coleman were the only Panthers with a multi-RBI game for game one.

Game Two:
Schuerman sent freshman Madi LoCastro to the mound, while Falla III sent sophomore Shellby Young to counter.

The Manatees would take the lead at the top of the first after an RBI groundout from Graham.

Meanwhile on the mound, LoCastro was doing her job as she breezed through the first three innings, despite loading the bases in the bottom of the third before getting out of the inning through a double play.

At the top of the sixth, the Manatees would add another run as Graham brought in Nunez with a fielder's choice to make it 2-0 SCF, but in the bottom half, the Panthers would cut the deficit to one run after Frascatore scored on a McFadden fielding error.

With the score 2-1 SCF, heading into the top of the seventh, the Manatees would add an insurance run as sophomore Kyria Holcomb would hit an RBI double that sent Parks home to make it 3-1 SCF before LoCastro closed the inning while getting out of another jam to get the win.

LoCastro would earn the win, putting her at 7-3 on the season after throwing a five-hit complete game, giving up the lone unearned run while striking out one batter.

Young would fall to 10-3 with the loss after giving up all three runs (one earned) on five hits while walking one batter and striking out one.

Nunez would go 3-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base and finished 3-for-6 with four runs and two stolen bases. Nunez's stolen base count put her at 45 in her career.

Holcomb, who missed 12 straight games, would finish 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Graham was the only Manatee in game two with a multi-RBI game as she added two RBI despite going 0-for-3.

Other Suncoast Scores:
Some scores have not been posted in the Suncoast, however, HCC (11-14, 1-3 Suncoast) did the unthinkable as they upset #1 FSW (34-1, 3-1 Suncoast) in the first of their split by a score of 13-12.

This will be revised as soon as possible.

Up Next:
The Manatees return home for their final non-conference doubleheader as they welcome NJCAA Region V El Paso Community College (7-13) to the SCF Softball Complex on Saturday, March 16 at 1 and 3 pm.