Hutcherson's Seven RBI Help SCF SB Split With EFSC

The SCF softball team (18-10) wrapped up their eight-game homestead at the SCF Softball Complex as they split with Eastern Florida State (12-9, 4-1 Southern) losing game one 7-4 in 10 innings before winning game two 11-8. With the split, the Manatees are now 9-3 against the Titans (2012-present).

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent sophomore Madi LoCastro to the mound, while EFSC head coach Jim Beitia sent sophomore Katelyn Wilfert to counter.

The Manatees would get on the board first in the bottom of the first after an RBI single by freshman Lauren Hutcherson to bring in classmate Lauren Lightbody.

At the top of the third, the Titans would respond back with a solo home run off the bat of freshman Gabriela Garcia. It was Garcia's third home run of the season.

With the score still tied 1-1, it was a really a pitcher's dual between LoCastro and Wilfert until the top of the fifth when Garcia hit her fourth home run of the season (second of the game) to give the Titans a 2-1 lead, but the Manatees would answer back in the bottom of the sixth after Hutcherson hit her first collegiate home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2.

At the top of the seventh, freshman Ally Hulme would come in for relief for LoCastro and was able to get out of the inning with three straight outs. After both teams failed to score in the seventh, the game would go to extra innings.

At the top of the ninth, with the international rule in effect, the Titans would take the lead after sophomore Jaidyn Ahl reached base on a fielding error to bring in sophomore Meritxell Blesa to make it 3-2 EFSC, but the Manatees would respond back in the bottom half after freshman Emily Hughes brought in classmate Lilly Salazar, who was placed on second, to tie the game at 3-3.

The Titans would get a big response from Wilfert at the top of the 10th as she hit a two-run blast to left for her sixth home run of the season before Ahl hit a two-RBI double to make it 7-3 EFSC. The Manatees would add one final run after sophomore Makayla Benavidez brought in freshman Kristin Kopp with an RBI groundout, but it was that could be produced as the Titans took the first game.

Wilfert would earn her eighth win of the season after throwing a 10th inning complete game, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, while going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Wilfert is now 8-5 on the year.

LoCastro would earn a no-decision after giving up two runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts in six innings.

Hulme would be dubbed with the loss after giving up five runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings of relief. Hulme is now 6-3 on the season.

Hutcherson would be the only Manatee with a multi-hit and multi-RBI game as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. Hughes and sophomore Madelyn Graham would have the teams other two hits. Hughes was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Garcia was 2-for-5 with two home runs, two RBI and runs for the Titans, while Ahl lead the team in hitting going 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Game Two:
Looking to bounce back from the loss, Schuerman sent sophomore Ashlee Zientek to pitch game two, while Beitia sent sophomore McKinleigh Millard.

It would be the Titans that would score first in the first inning after an RBI double by sophomore Victoria Perez and an RBI single by sophomore Sarah Goldsmith for a 2-0 EFSC lead, but the Manatees decided to put a big offensive rally together in the bottom half. After freshman Maddie Koczersut began the inning with a leadoff single, classmate Lilly Salazar would reach base on a fielding error before Lightbody loaded the bases with a single. This would be a big turning point for Hutcherson as the Lake City native would send a single to center and bring in Koczersut and Salazar to tie the game at 2-2.

With runners in scoring position, freshman Samantha Hampton would give the Manatees a 4-3 lead with a single to center to bring in Lightbody and Hutcherson. After Kopp drew a walk, Graham laid down a sacrifice bunt and Zientek struck out, Hughes would hit a hard ball and reach base on an error while Hampton scored. The Manatees would bat around as Koczersut would send a single to left to bring in Kopp before Hughes scored after Salazar reached base on an error for a 7-2 SCF lead.

After the Titans scored at the top of the second after an RBI double by sophomore Sarah Thomas, the bats went quiet in the third before the Titans responded again with two runs after Blesa scored on a fielding error and Garcia laid out a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5 SCF.

The Manatees would respond back in the bottom of the fifth that started with a leadoff single by Graham before stealing second base. After Zientek flew out, Hughes would send a single to center and bring in Graham for a 8-5 SCF lead. After Koczersut and Salazar drew walks to load the bases, the show became all about Hutcherson as she cleared the bases with a double for a 11-5 SCF.

The Titans would add three final runs after a bases loaded walk by sophomore Madison Neuhaus and Perez reach base on a fielding error to bring in Thomas and Garcia, but the Manatees would able to pull themselves together and claim game two.

Zientek would earn the win after throwing a complete game, giving up eight runs (three earned) on nine hits with four walks and a tied career-high eight strikeouts while going 1-for-4 at the plate. Zientek is now 4-3 on the year.

Millard would be dubbed with the loss after a six inning complete game, giving up all 11 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with six walks and a strikeout. Millard is now 4-2 on the year.

Hutcherson was the hero of game two and the overall series as she finished game two 3-for-4 with five RBI. In the series, Hutcherson finished 5-for-7 with a home run, one walk and seven RBI.

Koczersut was 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, a walk and a stolen base, while Hampton was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.

Lightbody (1-for-3, two runs and one walk), Graham (1-for-2, one run, one walk and a stolen base) and Hughes (1-for-4, one RBI, two runs and a stolen base) had the teams final three hits.

Thomas would lead the Titans going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. She was the only Titan in game two with a multi-hit game.

Notes:
The second win against EFSC was Schuerman's 196th career win with the Manatees and needs four to reach 200 career wins.

Up Next:
The Manatees go back on the road for a brief moment as they travel to Sanford to take on #10 Seminole State College (22-1) in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 7 at noon and 2 pm.