SCF Takes Game One of Suncoast Tournament, Clips HCC

After being unable to play Friday due to Mother Nature, the #1 seed RV SCF softball team (42-13) were able to take game one of the Suncoast Conference Tournament at the SCF Softball Complex as they defeated #3 seed Hillsborough (19-26) 13-5 via mercy rule. With the win, the Manatees are now 26-7 against the Hawks.

Game One:
Before SCF played their game, they awaited the winner between HCC and #4 seed St. Pete College (27-25) in a nail biter of a game as the Hawks eliminated the Titans 3-2 in eight innings.

Freshman Landry Newgent earned her 12th win on the year after throwing an eight inning complete game, giving up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Newgent is now 12-14 on the year.

Freshman Gabriella Cirilo would be dubbed with her seventh loss, ending her freshman campaign at 7-7 after giving up one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Sophomore Sydney Tulin threw a third of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits with two walks.

For the Hawks offense, sophomores Dominique Mannerino, Aliyah Carter and Daniela Bautista had two hit apiece with Bautista being the only Hawk with a multi-RBI game and Carter bringing the other RBI. In fact, Mannerino, Carter and Bautista had the Hawks only six hits.

For the Titans offense, freshman Samantha Crim was the only player with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a run.

Freshman Isabella Huff and sophomore Emily Biddle were 1-for-4 with an RBI each. Huff also added a run scored.

Game Two:
For game two of the tournament, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent her ace starter in freshman Kailey Christian to the mound while HCC head coach Elizabeth Holloman sent her freshman Tatiana Watts to counter.

In a rare moment for SCF, the Hawks would get on the board first at the top of the first after freshman Ysa Dominguez hit a bases-loaded two-RBI single to make it 2-0 HCC, but the Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning after a suicide squeeze bunt by sophomore Kyria Holcomb that brought in classmate Cheyenne Nunez to cut the lead by one.

After holding HCC scoreless in the top half of the second, the Manatees rallied a big bottom half of the inning. After three one-out singles by Nunez and freshmen Madi LoCastro and Lauren Bostwick to load the bases, sophomore Megan Seeds would draw a walk and send LoCastro home to tie the game up at 2-2. Holcomb would send Bostwick home on a fielder's choice to load the bases again and give SCF a 3-2 lead. After sophomore Haley McFadden grounded into a fielder's choice that did not bring in a run, freshman Sabrina Long would extend the lead with a two-RBI single, sending Seeds and Holcomb home. Freshman Madelyn Graham would then follow with an RBI single bringing in McFadden before Christian, who batted around in the lineup, hit a two-RBI single that brought in Long and sophomore pinch runner Sydney Park to make it 8-2 SCF.

At the top of the third, HCC would bring in two runs with an RBI double by freshman Gabie Bello before she scored on a fielding error. Schuerman would pull Christian out and send freshman Ashlee Zientek to the mound for relief where she finished the inning with a double play.

The Manatees would respond back with their strong bat. After freshman Landry Newgent came in for relief, the Manatees would load the bases on three straight fielding errors with two of them on sophomore Jordyn Frank. Bostwick and Nunez would score on a fielding error from sophomore catcher Aliyah Carter before Holcomb brought Seeds home with a sacrifice fly to make it 11-4 SCF. After back-to-back singles by McFadden and Long, Zientek would reach on fielding error while McFadden scored to make it 12-4 SCF before Long was called out trying to advance home.

At the top of the fifth, HCC would get one more run on the board from an RBI single by Franks to make it 12-5, but the Manatees would not let the win out of their sight in the bottom half. After McFadden reached on an error and singles by Holcomb and Graham occurred, Zientek would hit into a fielding error and send Holcomb home to seal the deal for an SCF win.

Christian would earn her 22nd win of the season, putting her at 22-3 on the season, after throwing 2.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out one. Christian was also 1-for-2 with two RBI. Zientek would throw 2.2 innings of relief and give up one run on two hits with one strikeout.

Watts would be credited with the loss after throwing two innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits while walking two. Newgent gave up five runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game with Nunez finishing 3-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases while McFadden, Long and Graham finished 2-for-4 each. Holcomb finished 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

For the Hawks, Dominguez, Bello and Franks had two hits each. Dominguez and Franks had two RBI each.

Up Next:
The Manatees are looking to take game two of the tournament so they can punch their ticket to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament in Longwood, Florida on Monday, April 22 at 5 pm. Should SCF lose game two, then there will be a third game at 7 pm to decide who will qualify for the state tournament.