SCF Softball Closes Suncoast Plays, Sweeps Polk State

The #19 SCF softball team (41-13, 16-4 Suncoast) closed up Suncoast Conference play in the regular season with their fifth overall series sweep as they defeated Polk State (20-28, 6-13 Suncoast) by scores of 4-0 and 4-2. With the wins, the Manatees are now 25-9 against the Eagles (2012-Present).

Game One:
Schuerman sent freshman Kailey Christian to the mound while Polk State head coach Donna Byars sent freshman Sarah Grindrod to counter.

The Manatees would begin the game on the board, beginning with a leadoff single from sophomore Cheyenne Nunez. After back-to-back walks drawn by classmates Megan Seeds and Kyria Holcomb to load the bases, sophomore Haley McFadden would send a fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly to send Nunez home. After freshman Sabrina "Sas" long was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the second time, Byars would make a pitching change and send freshman Alayna Carranco to the mound, but the Manatees would answer back with another run as Seeds scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 SCF.

At the top of the third, the Manatees would add two more runs to the board from a two-run blast by McFadden to make it 4-0 SCF. This was her second home run of the season.

Despite the 4-0 Manatee lead, the Eagles tried to get Christian to crack in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded, but the upcoming Delaware transfer refused to let the Eagles claw their way on the scoreboard after back-to-back fly outs. From there, the Manatees kept up the defense to pull away for the win.

Christian would earn her 21st win of the season, putting her at 21-3 overall, after throwing her 20th complete game and fourth shutout of the season while walking one batter and striking out five. She was also 1-for-3 with a double.

Grindrod would be credited with the loss after two-thirds of an inning, giving up one two runs on one hit while walking two batters.

Carranco threw 6.1 innings of relief, giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out one.

For game one, McFadden was the hero after going 2-for-3 with the home run and three RBI.

Nunez would be the only other Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Holcomb, Long and freshman Madi LoCastro had one each.

Sophomore Lauren Estrada would be the only Eagle with a multi-hit game in game one after finishing 2-for-2 while sophomore Destiny Breeden and freshmen Alexis McBride and Anizya Vargas had the Eagles other three hits.

Game Two:
Schuerman would send freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound for game two while Byars sent freshman Megan Wilder to counter.

Once again, the Manatees would get on the scoreboard first at the top of the first after back-to-back RBI doubles by Seeds and Holcomb, but the Eagles would attempt to threaten the Manatees lead after a Vargas RBI single.

At the top off the fourth, the Manatees would pound in some insurance runs beginning with a one-out single by Zientek before Schuerman sent freshman Alexis Bridges to pinch run before she advanced to second on a passed ball. After freshman Lauren Bostwick drew a walk, Nunez made a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners for Seeds. With a 3-0 count, the Pinellas Park native would come to the plate and send Bridges and Bostwick home with a double to center to make it 4-1 SCF.

The Eagles attempted to be a threat to Zientek as Polk State would get a second run on the board from an RBI double by freshman Alexis McBride in the bottom of the sixth, but the Winter Springs native would not let that get in the way as she pulled away with the win. Zientek was also 2-for-2 at the plate.

Zientek would earn her eighth win of the season after throwing a complete game, giving up two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out five. Zientek is now at 8-4 on the season.

Wilder would end up with the loss after giving up all four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out one in 3.1 innings.

Carranco threw 3.2 scoreless innings with one walk.

Seeds and Holcomb finished 2-for-4 each with Seeds leading the way with three RBI and Holcomb adding the other RBI.

Nunez and McFadden had the Manatees other lone hits.

For Polk State, sophomore Destinee Jackson was the only Eagle in game two with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Other Suncoast Scores:
#1 FSW (51-1, 18-1 Suncoast) swept South Florida State (24-24, 4-16 Suncoast) 11-0 in game one and 2-0 in game two.

Hillsborough (18-25, 8-12 Suncoast) swept St. Pete College (27-24, 7-13 Suncoast) 3-2 in game one and 8-0 in six innings via mercy rule.

Suncoast Standings:
1. #1 FSW (51-1, 18-1 Suncoast)* #
2. #19 SCF  (41-13, 16-4 Suncoast)
3. Hillsborough (18-25, 8-12 Suncoast)
4. St. Pete College (27-24, 7-13 Suncoast)
5. Polk State (20-28, 6-13 Suncoast)
6. South Florida State (24-24, 4-16 Suncoast)

*Suncoast Conference Regular Season Champions
#Clinched Playoff Berth

Upcoming Suncoast Games:
*4/18: #1 FSW @ Polk State
*game was suspended from April 9. FSW is ahead of Polk State 9-3 at the top of the second inning.

Up Next:
The Manatees will host the Suncoast Conference Tournament at the SCF Softball Complex on Friday, April 19. Since the Manatees are the #2 team in the Suncoast, they will be the #1 seed of the tournament and will have a bye while they await the winner between the #3 seed (HCC) and #4 seed (SPC). HCC and SPC will play each other at 5 pm and the winner between those two teams will play SCF in the championship game at 7 pm.