SCF Softball Splits at Seminole Tournament

The SCF softball team (10-8) were able to pull away with a split as they fell to Pensacola State (14-2) 6-2 before defeating Daytona State (5-11) 14-6 in six innings at Boombah Soldiers Creek in Seminole, Florida. With the split, the Manatees are now 1-3 against the Pirates and 7-2 against the Falcons (2012-present).

SCF vs Pensacola State:
Head coach Mandy Schuerman sent sophomore Ashlee Zientek to the mound, while Pensacola head coach Lyndsey Angus sent freshman Tori Fletcher to counter.

The Manatees would take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second after freshman Maddie Koczersut sent classmate Kristin Kopp home with a triple before scoring on an RBI groundout by Zientek.

After that, the Pirates buckled Zientek after Fletcher had an RBI groundout at the top of the third and freshman Ellie Hansen hit an RBI triple to tie the game at 2-2. The top of the sixth, the Pirates would take advantage of an opportunity as they scored four runs to get the win.

Zientek would be dubbed with the loss after giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts in a complete game. Zientek is now 3-3 on the year. Zientek was also 1-for-3 with a single.

Fletcher would end up with her fifth win of the season after throwing a complete game, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out one. Fletcher was also 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Freshman Lilly Salazar would be the only Manatee against Pensacola with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4, while Koczersut, Kopp and classmate Lauren Lightbody had a hit each.

Freshman Monique Poitevin was 2-for-4 with a run scored. She was the only Pirate with a multi-hit game. Hansen and classmate Susanna Soldi were 1-for-3 with two RBI each.

SCF vs Daytona:
Hoping to bounce back, Schuerman sent freshman Ally Hulme to the mound while Daytona State head coach Keli Harrell sent sophomore Ashley Greene.

Hulme was starting to struggle in the first inning after giving up four runs after an RBI doubles by sophomore Giavonna Auricchio and freshman Kelly Montilla for a 4-0 Daytona lead. This would signal the end for Hulme as Schuerman would send freshman Samantha Hampton to the mound to get out of the inning in success.

In the bottom of the first, the Manatees were able to get on the board after an RBI single by Koczersut brought in Salazar to make it 4-1 DSC before freshman Lauren Hutcherson brought in Hampton to make it 4-2 DSC.

In the bottom of the second, the Manatees shook out the cobwebs and bring the sparks that they needed beginning with a leadoff single by freshman Madi Schaefer. After classmate Emily Hughes reached base on a sacrifice attempt and Lightbody singled to load the bases, Salazar would cut the Falcons lead to one after an RBI single to bring in Schaefer made it 4-3 Daytona State. After Hampton popped out, Koczersut would tie the game and bring in Hughes with an after being hit by a pitch to make it 4-4. With the bases still loaded, sophomore Madi LoCastro would spark the Manatees offense on a 2-2 count with a single to right to send Lightbody and Salazar home to make it 6-4 SCF. Hutcherson would then reach base on a fielding error to send Koczersut home for a 7-4 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would pull together a few runs to help their lead. After Hughes reached first on a fielding and Salazar and Hampton hit back-to-back one singles, Koczersut would show her offensive dominance and send Hughes and Salazar home to make it 9-4 SCF before Hampton was called out at third.

At the top of the fourth, the Falcons were able to get another run on the board after an RBI double by freshman ALeeah Ashmeal and an RBI single by sophomore Kialey Hogue, but the Manatees would answer back more aggressively. At the bottom of the fourth, after a leadoff triple by Hutcherson, Kopp would send a infield single to right to send Hutcherson home for a 10-6 SCF lead before Koczersut in the bottom of the fifth would send her third home run of the season to center for a 11-6 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees decided to seal the deal for the mercy win. After a leadoff double by Hutcherson and a one-out single by Schaefer, sophomore Madelyn Graham, who was in a recent drought, came in to pinch hit for Hughes. On a 3-1 count, the Bartow native would send a single to right and bring in Hutcherson before Hughes reentered the game as a pinch runner. Lightbody would then hit a double to center and bring in Schaefer for Salazar. With a 1-2 count in her sight, the Wauchula native would send an infield single to short and bring in Hughes for the game.

Hulme would earn a no-decision after giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits with with one walk in a third of an inning.

Hampton would be credited with the win after giving up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings. Hampton was also 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hampton is now 2-2 on the season.

LoCastro threw two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts, while going 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Greene would be dubbed with the loss after giving up nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings.

Ashmeal gave up five runs on eight hits in two and two-thirds innings. Ashmeal was also 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Koczersut was the hero offensively for the Manatees as she went 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBI.

Salazar and Schaefer also had three hits each. Salazar (3-for-5) added two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base, while Schaefer added two runs scored.

Lightbody (2-for-4, one RBI and one run scored), Hutcherson (2-for-4, one RBI and two runs scored) and Kopp (2-for-4, one RBI) all had two hits and an RBI each.

Hogue was the only Falcon with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Montilla was 1-for-3 with three RBI and was the only Falcon with a multi-RBI game.

Up Next:
The Manatees remain on the road as they travel to Palm Beach to take on Palm Beach State (2-16) Tuesday afternoon, February 25 at 3 and 5 pm. The Manatees played the Panthers earlier in the season (2/17) winning by scores of 4-0 and 13-0.