"Both wins were team wins," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We had many girls step up and play big roles. Our pitching staff has been doing a great job in the circle limiting runs. Our hitting front top to bottom in the line up is doing a great job producing runs. We beat a very good HCC team tonight. So now we will refocus and look to compete against SFSC on Thursday."
For game one, Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound while HCC head coach Elizabeth "Betsy" Holloman sent freshman Tatiana Watts to counter.
Although both pitchers were at a pitcher's dual in the first two innings, Christian had the better upper hand with strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees got on the scoreboard first after sophomore Cheyenne Nunez reached first and second on a fielding error, advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a fielding error by sophomore catcher Aliyah Carter to made it 1-0 SCF.
Meanwhile on the mound, Christian continued her dominance as she was holding the Hawks not just scoreless, but hitless too.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees continued to open the floodgates on the scoreboard beginning with a lead-off single from freshman Sabrina Long. After a one-out single from sophomore Nicci Palumbo, classmate Sydney Parks would send Long home with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0, however it was not enough for the Manatees after back-to-back RBI singles from freshman Lauren Bostwick and Nunez made it 4-0 SCF.
While Christian fought at the top of the fifth, the offense continued to do their part in the bottom half of the fifth. After back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore Megan Seeds and freshman Madelyn Graham, sophomore Haley McFadden would clear the path with a two-RBI double to make it 6-0 SCF.
At the top of the sixth, the Hawks finally got to Christian as an RBI single from sophomore Dominique Mannerino broke up the no-hitter, but a scoreless seventh would stop HCC in their tracks as SCF pulled away with the win.
Christian would earned the win after throwing a one-hit complete game, giving up the lone run, walking one and striking out six. Christian is now at 15-1 on her record.
Long would be the only Manatee in game one as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored while McFadden was only Manatee with a multi-RBI game with two RBI while going 1-for-3.
As a result of the win, Schuerman earned her 50th career win in the Suncoast Conference.
Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent freshman Madi LoCastro to the mound, while Holloman sent freshman Landry Newgent.
HCC would get on the board first at the top of the first after an RBI single from Carter while holding the Manatees scoreless until in the bottom of the third when Seed sent home LoCastro with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1 before the Hawks retook the lead with an RBI single from freshman Ysabella Dominguez.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees managed to retie the game as LoCastro hit a hard ground ball that sent Long home to tie the score at 2-2, but then the Manatees were able to take their first lead of the second game in the bottom of the fifth. Beginning with back-to-back singles by Nunez and Seeds before Graham reached first on an error to load the bases, McFadden would send a hard triple that cleared the bases to make it 5-2 before Long brought McFadden in with a single to make it 6-2 SCF.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees would add two more runs to seal the deal. After Nunez singled and Seeds followed with a double, McFadden would once again clear the bases with a single, sending Nunez and Seeds home to make it 8-2 before Long chipped a sacrifice fly to send McFadden home for the final run of the game and the win for SCF.
LoCastro would earn her sixth win of the season after a complete game, giving up two runs (both unearned) on nine hits with eight strikeouts. LoCastro was also 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Newgent would be credited with the loss after throwing six innings giving up all nine runs (three earned) on 12 hits while striking out one batter.
McFadden would have one of her best games this season as she finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a career-high five RBI and finished the series 4-for-7 with seven RBI.
Both Seeds and Nunez also went 3-for-4 with two runs each. Seeds added an RBI to the mix.
Along with LoCastro, Long also finished with two hits and a run while adding two RBI.
Mannerino, Carter, and sophomore Jordyn Franks had two hits each.
Other Suncoast Games:
South Florida State (22-8, 2-0 Suncoast) swept Polk State (13-18, 0-2 Suncoast) 4-0 in game one and 12-1 in game two via mercy rule, while #1 FSW (33-0, 2-0 Suncoast) swept St. Pete College (18-13, 0-2 Suncoast) 8-0 in game one via mercy rule and 8-1 in game two.
Updated Standings:
1. #1 FSW (33-0, 2-0)
2. SCF (26-8, 2-0)
3. South Florida State College (22-8, 2-0)
4. St. Pete College (18-13, 0-2)
5. HCC (10-13, 0-2)
6. Polk (13-18, 0-2)
Up Next:
The Manatees will travel to Avon Park for conference play as they prepare to face South Florida State College (22-8, 2-0 Suncoast) on Thursday, March 14 at 5 and 7 pm.
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