SCF Softball Sweeps Santa Fe

After falling in three straight games, the RV SCF softball team (3-3) were able to bounce back to even as they swept Santa Fe (6-2) 7-5 in game one and 7-6 in game two. With the wins, the Manatees are now 22-8 against the Saints.

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Samantha Hampton to the mound while Lindsay Fico sent freshman Cris'Deona Beasley to counter.

The Manatees would get on the board at the top of the first inning. After back-to-back walks drawn by freshmen Lilly Salazar and Maddie Koczersut, sophomore Madelyn Graham would single to center to load the bases. After freshman Emily Hughes popped out, classmate Kristin Kopp would send Salazar and Koczersut home with a single to second to make it 2-0 SCF before sophomore Madi LoCastro struck out to end the top half.

In the bottom of the third, the Saints would get on the board as sophomore Karina Ortiz-Munoz hit a solo shot to center to make it 2-1 SCF. This was Ortiz-Munoz's second home run of the season. In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints would then tie the game at 2-2 after sophomore Siarra Navarro scored on a fielding error by Salazar before taking the lead after freshman Grace Prom stole home to make it 3-2 Santa Fe. It also signaled the end for Hampton as sophomore Ashlee Zientek came in for relief.

At the top of the Sixth, the Manatees would not allow another loss to get in their way and pulled themselves together for a rally. It started when sophomore Makayla Benavidez reached first on a fielding error which was then followed by a bunt single by freshman Lauren Lightbody before Fico made the decision to pull Beasley and send sophomore Dontaysha Gobourne to the mound. After freshman Madi Schaefer popped out, Koczersut would draw a walk to load the bases for Graham. On an full count, Graham would tie the game at 3-3 and send Benavidez home.

Upon the walk, Schuerman sent freshman Summer Glenn to pinch run for Graham before Lightbody scored on a passed ball to give the Manatees a 4-3 lead before Hughes drew a walk to load the bases for Kopp, who also drew a walk to send Koczersut home for a 5-3 SCF lead. After LoCastro lined out for the second out, Glenn and Hughes would score off of back-to-back passed balls to make it 7-3 SCF.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Saints were able to cut the deficit to two after a two-RBI single by Gobourne but it was all they could produce as the Manatees pulled away with the win.

Hampton would get a no-decision after giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Zientek would be credited with her first win of the season after giving up three runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Zientek is now 1-1 on the year.

Beasley would have a no-decision after throwing five innings, giving up two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Gobourne would be credited with the loss after giving up five runs (two earned) on one hit with five walks and two strikeouts. Gobourne was also 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.

Kopp and Lightbody would each have two hits. Kopp added three RBI, a stolen base and a walk, while Lightbody added a run scored and a walk.

Graham (one RBI and one walk), Salazar (one run and one walk), Koczersut (two runs scored and two walks) and LoCastro had the teams other lone hits.

Ortiz-Munoz, Prom and freshman Jayelyn Carter had two hits apiece.

Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent freshman Ally Hulme to the mound while Fico sent Beasley back to the mound to counter.

Once again the Manatees would get on the board that what lit up by a two-run shot by Koczersut. It was Koczersut's second home run of the season.

At the top of the second, the Manatees decided to extend their lead. After loading the bases from walks drawn by LoCastro and freshman Carly Bogart and a single by Salazar, Hughes would send a double to center to send LoCastro and Salazar home to make it 4-0 SCF. It signaled the end for Beasley again as Fico would once again send Gobourne to the mound.

The Saints would then get on the board in the bottom of the third after an RBI double by Prom and an RBI single by sophomore Jessica Parsells made it 4-2 SCF before LoCastro came in for relief to end the third.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would add to their lead yet again. After Glenn drew a one-out walk, Lightbody would hit a single before Koczersut drew a walk to load the bases for Graham. The Bartow native would draw a walk on four straight pitches and send Glenn home for a 5-2 SCF lead. This would signal the end for Gobourne and bring in freshman Morgan Lebeda to come in for relief.

With Kopp at the plate, the Manatees took advantage of two wild pitches as Lightbody and Koczersut scored to make it 7-2 SCF before ending the top half.

The Saints would try to cut the deficit with a sacrifice fly by Parsells in the bottom of the fifth and an RBI single by Ortiz-Munoz in the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Saints gave one final breath as freshman Grace Guthrie hit an RBI single and classmate Ashlyn Rogers brought in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 7-6 SCF. After Hampton entered the game for a save situation, a fly out by freshman Dara Gaylard ended the Saints chances of tying the game as the Manatees pulled away with the win.

Hulme would have a no-decision after giving up two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

LoCastro would earn the win after giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts. LoCastro is now 1-1 on the year.

Hampton would be credited with the save after two-thirds of an inning.

Salazar would finish 3-for-4 with one run scored and two stolen bases, while Lightbody finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Salazar finished the series 4-for-6 with two stolen bases and two runs scored while Lightbody would finish 4-for-9 with three runs scored and a stolen base.

Koczersut and Hughes finished with two RBI each.

 Beasley would go to 3-1 after the loss after giving up four runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in two innings. Gobourne gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit with five walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Lebeda threw three scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Parsells, Carter and Guthrie each had two hits. Parsells had the Saints lone multi-RBI game.

Other Suncoast Scores:
#2 FSW (6-1) went 3-1 in the Visit Dothan Invitational in Dothan, Alabama. The Buccaneers split day one defeating Northwest Florida State College 9-3 and losing 5-4 in nine innings against #5 Salt Lake CC (NJCAA Region 18) before sweeping day two defeating College of #19 Southern Idaho (NJCAA Region 18) 7-5 and #14 Chattanooga State (NJCAA Region 7) 9-0 via mercy rule. The Buccaneers will face Miami Dade Tuesday afternoon, February 11 at 1 and 3 pm.

St. Pete (8-2) defeated Lake Sumter State 14-6 (six innings) and 6-3 Friday. The Titans will face Santa Fe College Tuesday night, February 11 at 4 and 6 pm.

Hillsborough (4-6) split their series with Miami Dade as they won 10-4 game one before falling 7-1. The Hawks will return to action and take on Seminole State Tuesday night, February 11 at 4 and 6 pm.

Polk State (3-5) split their series with Daytona State as they won game one 13-9 before losing game two 8-2. The Eagles will be back in action Saturday afternoon, February 15 as they take on Indian River State at 1 and 3 pm.

South Florida State (2-6) were swept by Indian River State losing by scores of 8-0 (six innings) and 4-3 (seven innings). The Panthers will face Palm Beach State Tuesday afternoon, February 11 at 1 and 3 pm.

Up Next:
The Manatees will remain on the road as they travel to Fort Pierce to take on Indian River State (12-0) Tuesday afternoon, February 11 at 2 and 4 pm.