SCF Splits Series with CCF, Now Readies for State Tournament

The #20 SCF softball team (44-14) closed the regular season on the road as they split with #4 College of Central Florida (49-9) losing 9-5 in game one before winning 10-6 in game two. With the split, the Manatees are now 13-18 against the Patriots and split the series at 2-2 this season.

"We have to figure out how to come out aggressively after being on the road," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "I thought We made adjusts just to late in the game. CCF is a well coached team with a lot of talent so if you are slow to get started, it will be hard to beat them."

Game One:
For game one, Schuerman sent sophomore Megan Seeds to the mound while CCF head coach Kevin Fagan freshman Barbara Cook to counter.

The Patriots would be the first to get on the board in the bottom of the first as freshman Olivia Simon and sophomore Elaina Lukas drew back-to-back bases loaded walks for 2-0 CCF lead. It did not stop for the Patiots in the bottom of the second as sophomore Maggie Trgo hit a two-RBI triple to start the inning. Schuerman decided to pull Seeds and send freshman Madi LoCastro to the mound while sending Seeds to right.

The Patriots put a bigger effect with LoCastro on the mound after back-to-back RBI singles by sophomore Joanna Muldoon and Simon which was then followed by Muldoon scoring on a fielding error to make it 7-0 CCF.

The Patriots would tack another run on the board from a solo shot by freshman Ashley Harris. It was her fourth of the season.

Not wanting to get shutout by the eight-run mercy rule, the Manatees fought to get on the board at the top of the fifth. After sophomore Madison Yoder drew a walk and classmate Sydney Parks was hit by a pitch, freshman Lauren Bostwick, on an 0-1 count, would clock her first collegiate home run to center to make it 8-3 CCF, but the Patriots would add one more run from a fielder's choice by Harris.

At the top of the seventh, the Manatees would try to catch a breath and add to their score beginning with a leadoff solo shot by Bostwick. This was her second home run of the season and second of the game. After sophomore Cheyenne Nunez hit a single to left before stealing her 37th base of the season, classmate Kyria Holcomb would single before sophomore Haley McFadden sent Nunez home with a single to make it 9-5 CCF, but it was all the Manatees could muster as CCF claimed the first game.

Seeds would be credited with her third loss of the season after one inning, giving up four runs on two hits while walking six and striking out one. Seeds is now 2-3 on the season.

LoCastro would give up five runs (four earned) on eight hits while walking three batters in five innings of relief.

Cook would earn her 19th win of the season after 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on two hits with three walks.

Freshman Kelsie Rivers gave up on two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out two in 2.2 innings of relief.

Bostwick would be the only Manatee in game one with a multi-hit and multi-RBI game as she finished 2-for-3 with her first collegiate home runs and four RBI. In fact, Bostwick is the only Manatee this season with a multi-home run game.

For the Patriots, Muldoon (3-for-4, one RBI) and Trgo (2-for-3, two RBI) would be the only Patriots with a multi-hit game with Trgo being the only one with a multi-RBI game for game one.

Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound while Fagan sent Rivers to counter.

The Patriots would be the first to get on the board again in the bottom of the first as Trgo would hit a solo shot to left. This was her first home run of the season.

Despite the home run given up, the Manatees would respond back in retaliation at the top of the second as LoCastro would clock a shot to give the Manatees a 2-1 lead. This was her seventh home run of the season, but Muldoon would tie the game up with a solo shot to center in the bottom of the second. This was her 10th home run of the season.

The Manatees would then regain the lead at the top of the third starting with a single by Seeds. After a Holcomb sacrifice bunt, Long would hit a double to left before freshman Madelyn Graham sent a sacrifice fly to right to send Seeds home to make it 3-2 SCF. Freshman Kailey Christian would then follow with an RBI single to center, sending Long home to make it 4-2 SCF. Fagan would then send Cook to the mound for relief

In the bottom of the third, the Patriots would retie the game at 4-4 after a two-run shot by sophomore Olivia Pope. This was her fourth home run of the season. The Patriots would then retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth after a Manatee fielding error to make it 5-4, but the Manatees would retaliate at the top of the fifth. After Graham drew a two-out walk and Christian lining a double to left, LoCastro would bring the offense back with a double to center, sending Graham and Christian home to make it 6-5 SCF, but Pope would retie the game in the bottom of the fifth with her fifth home run of the season and second of the game.

With the score tied 6-6 heading to the top of the sixth, the Manatees found the sparks they needed to regain the lead for a third time. After back-to-back one out singles by Nunez and Seeds and Holcomb reaching first on fielder's choice, all eyes turned to Long and on the first pitch, the Bartow native sent a grand slam to left to make it 10-6 SCF. This was Long's third home run of the season and the second grand slam this season for the Manatees.

"I was just trying to have a great at bat to help my team get the lead," said Long on her grand slam.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Zientek would get herself in a little bit of a jam after loading the bases, but with their strong defense, the Manatees were able to get the final out for the win.

"We had a collaborative offensive effort by many girls on our team," said Schuerman on game two. "I am happy to see our hitting come alive at the right time in the season."

Zientek would earn her ninth win of the season, putting her at 9-4 on the season after throwing a complete game giving up all six runs (five earned) on 12 hits, walking four batters and striking out one. Zientek was also 1-for-3 at the plate.

Rivers would be credited with a no-decision after throwing 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one.

Cook would earn her fourth loss of the season, putting her at 18-4 on the season after giving up six runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three in 4.1 innings of relief.

Seeds and Christian each finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Christian added an RBI to the mix.

Long and LoCastro each finished 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.

For CCF, Pope would lead the team batting 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI while sophomore Anina Fernandez (2-for-4, one run), Muldoon (2-for-3, one RBI) and sophomore Bailey Wilson (2-for-2) had two hits each.

Trgo finished 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

The Manatees have officially closed their portion of the regular season and Suncoast Conference play with a 22-7 record at home, 16-7 record on the road and a 7-3 record on neutral ground (3-1 JUCO Kickoff Classic, 2-2 Seminole Tournament, 2-0 Suncoast Tournament).

Up Next:
The Manatees will now prepare for the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament from May 2-5. The top two teams will represent NJCAA Region 8 and secure a spot for the 2019 NJCAA College Softball World Series. The Manatees will open their part of the tournament against #3 Chipola (43-4). The Indians were named the Panhandle Conference Regular Season Champions after going 18-1 in conference play.

"When opening with Chipola, I’m expecting to continue to have solid defense and pitching and to continue to have great at bats," said Schuerman on facing Chipola. "I’m hoping to come away with a big win against a championship caliber team."

State Tournament Bracket and Times:
#4 CCF  (49-9) vs  RV Indian River State (34-13) 10 am

# 3 Chipola (43-4) vs #20 SCF (44-14) 1 pm

#1 FSW (52-1) vs #17 Seminole State (44-14) 4 pm

Eastern Florida State (31-23) vs RV Gulf Coast State (37-15) 7 pm