SCF Softball Sweeps SPC

The SCF softball team (32-12, 8-3 Suncoast) pulled away with their third sweep in Suncoast Conference play as they defeated St. Pete (23-16, 5-5 Suncoast) 6-3 in game one and 10-5 in game two. With the wins, the Manatees are now 18-14 against the Titans.

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound, while SPC head coach Bre Myers sent freshman Ashley Smith to counter.

After a scoreless first inning, the Manatees would get on the board first. After back-to-back one out singles from sophomores Sabrina Long and Kyria Holcomb, Christian had no issue bringing in the first as she line a single to left to bring in Parks for a 1-0 SCF lead. Two batters later, fellow classmate Lauren Bostwick would clear the bases with a two-RBI triple to make it 3-0 which was then followed by an RBI double off the bat of Makayla Benavidez to make it 4-0 SCF. This signaled the end for Smith as Myers would make a pitching change and send sophomore Sydney Tulin to the mound.

The Manatees continued to hold the Titans scoreless while adding to their lead at the top of the fifth after sophomore Haley McFadden hit an RBI double that sent sophomore Cheyenne Nunez, who hit a single and stole her 27th stolen base, home to make it 5-0 SCF.

The Titans would then get on the board with their first run of the game as freshman Kaylen Gill sent home freshman Alexa Thrasher with an RBI single, but the Manatees would answer back at the top of the sixth with a big shot from Christian as she hit her first collegiate home run of the season to give the Manatees a 6-1 lead prior to Myers pulling Tulin and sending freshman Gabriella Cirilo to the mound.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Titans would try to cut the deficit to three as they scored two runs from an RBI groundout by freshman Hannah Barnes and an RBI single by freshman Valerie Colimodio, but it was all they could produce to the end as the Manatees pulled away with the win.

Christian would earn her 17th win after throwing her 13th complete game, giving up three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out five while going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Smith would fall to 5-3 with the loss after throwing two innings and giving up four runs on five hits.

Tulin gave up two runs on four hits while walking two batters in three innings.

Cirilo threw two scoreless innings while walking four and striking out one.

Aside from Christian, McFadden was the other Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-4 with an RBI while Bostwick was the other Manatee with a multi-RBI game as she finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.

For the Titans, Gill and sophomores Kelsey Holbert and Emma Biddle each had two hits.

Game Two:
Schuerman sent freshman Madi LoCastro to the mound while Myers sent Cirilo to counter.

The Titans would end up on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first after an RBI single from Barnes and a two-RBI single from Holbert that made it a 3-0 lead, but at the top of the second, the Manatees would respond back. After a leadoff walk drawn by Holcomb and Christian getting hit by a pitch, sophomore Madison Yoder attempted to move the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but instead reached on a fielding error that sent Holcomb home and brought Christian to third. Sophomore Sydney Parks would send Christian home with a sacrifice fly that cut SPC's lead to 3-2, which signaled the end for Lewis as Myers sent Cirilo. After Nunez hit a bunt single before stealing her 27th stolen base, sophomore Megan Seeds would send Yoder and Nunez home with a single to give the Manatees a 4-3 lead.

The Manatees continued to hold on to the 4-3 lead until the bottom of the fourth when Biddle hit an RBI single and Tulin scored on a fielding error by McFadden to give SPC a 5-4 lead. This signaled the end for LoCastro as Schuerman sent freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound to finish the inning.

After being held to the punch, the Manatees were able to tie the game at 5-5 after an RBI double by Seeds that sent Bostwick home at the top of the sixth. Myers sent Smith to the mound in relief for Cirilo at the top of the second before both teams failed to score, thus sending the game to extra innings.

At the top of the eighth, Seeds would start with a one-out single. After Long reached first on a fielder's choice, McFadden would draw a walk to load the bases for Holcomb. With an 0-1 count, Holcomb would give the Manatees the lead with a single sending Seeds and Long home to make it 7-5 SCF. The Manatees then extended the lead further as Christian sent home McFadden with an RBI single to make it 8-5. Myers would send Tulin shortly after.

After Yoder loaded the bases, Bostwick would draw a base-loaded walk to send Holcomb home before Nunez added a bases-loaded single to give the Manatees a 10-5 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Zientek would have no problem as she sealed the deal for the win.

LoCastro would be credited with a no-decision after throwing 3.2 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

Zientek would earn her sixth win of the season after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Zientek is now at 6-3.

Cirilo would be credited with a no-decision for SPC after giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits while walking six and striking out two.

Smith would be credited with her fourth loss after giving up five runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two.

Tulin threw a third of a scoreless inning.

Seeds led the team in game two as she went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a stolen base, while finishing 3-for-8 in the series.

Nunez finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base and also finished 3-for-8 with two stolen bases in the series. Nunez's 27th and 28th stolen bases were her 50th and 51st in her career.

Holcomb finished 1-for-1 with two walks and two RBI and 2-for-4 in the series.

For SPC, Biddle, Barnes and Holbert had two hits each with Holbert being the only Titan with a multi-RBI game as she finished with two.

Other Scores in the Suncoast:
#1 FSW (42-1, 9-1 Suncoast) defeated Polk State (16-23, 3-7 Suncoast) 8-0 via mercy rule.

South Florida State College (22-16, 2-8 Suncoast) will play Polk State on Tuesday, April 2 at 5 and 7 pm while

Up Next:
The Manatees remain on the road as they travel to Tampa to take on Hillsborough (13-20, 3-7 Suncoast) on Tuesday, April 2 at 5 and 7 pm at the City of Tampa Dick Greco Jr. Softball Complex.