Kopp Leads SCF to Double Walk-Off Sweep

Freshman Kristin Kopp's powerful bat helped the SCF softball team (20-12) wrap up non-conference play Wednesday as they swept Lincoln Land Community College (3-5) in walk-off fashion by scores of 5-4 and 8-7 in their first ever matchup. Both games ended in the eighth inning.

Game One:
For game one, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent sophomore Madi LoCastro to the mound, while LLCC head coach Rachel Wisner sent sophomore Jacey Nall to counter.

The Loggers would be the first to score at the top of the first after sophomore Abigail Walters scored when classmate Brooke Webber reached on an error, but the Manatees would answer back in the bottom half, thanks to a three run shot by Kopp brought in classmates Lauren Lightbody and Lauren Hutcherson to make it 3-1 SCF. It was Kopp's second home run of the season.

Two innings later, the Manatees would extend their lead to 4-1 after freshman Maddie Koczersut sent Lightbody home with a single.

At the top of the sixth, the Loggers would soon tie the game at 4-4 after a two-RBI double by freshman Katie Schaake and two RBI singles by Walters and freshman Kayla Settles. This signaled the end for LoCastro as Schuerman sent freshman Ally Hulme to the mound to close the sixth inning in success.

After both teams failed to score in the seventh, the game went into extra innings with freshman Makenna Byers placed at second per the International Tiebreaker rule. Despite that, Hulme was able to breeze through the inning with two strikeouts, giving the Manatees an opportunity to go for the win.

With sophomore Makayla Benavidez placed on second to pinch run for classmate Madelyn Graham, who was the last out in the bottom of the seventh, LoCastro would send Benavidez to third with a sacrifice bunt before freshman Emily Hughes sent Benavidez home with a sacrifice fly to left for the win.

LoCastro and Nall would each earn a no-decision. LoCastro gave up all four runs (three earned) on 10 hits with one walk in five and a third innings, while Nall gave up three runs on three hits with four walks in two innings. LoCastro was also 1-for-3 in the game.

Hulme would earn her seventh win of the season after throwing two and two-thirds innings of relief with six strikeouts. Hulme is now 7-4 on the year.

Schaake would be dubbed with the loss after giving up two runs on five hits in five and two-thirds innings of relief. She was also 3-for-4 with one RBI.

Sophomore Courtney Keller also had a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with a run.

Lightbody and Hutcherson each were 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kopp finished game one 1-for-3 with the home run and three RBI, while freshman Lilly Salazar had the Manatees' final hit as she finished 1-for-3.

Aside from Schaake and Keller, Walters also had a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Game Two:
Schuerman sent Hulme to the mound to start game two, while Wisner sent sophomore Megan Behl.

In a turn of events, the Loggers would be the first on the board in the first two innings after an RBI single by Settles in the first inning and an RBI single by freshman Rebecca Littrel and two-RBI triple by sophomore Shaye Virgin in the second made it 4-0 LLCC.

After the Loggers added one more at the top of the fourth after a Virgin RBI single, Schuerman pulled Hulme and sent freshman Samantha Hampton to the mound for relief in success.

After a scoreless fifth, the Loggers would have freshman Braylee Finck went to the mound before the Manatees would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth beginning with a two-out walk drawn by Hampton before Hughes doubled to left to send Hampton home. After freshman Carly Bogart hit a single to left, classmate Madi Schaefer sent Hughes home with a double to center to make it 5-2 still in favor of LLCC.

At the top of the seventh, the Loggers would add two more runs after Virgin scored on a fielding error off of a fly ball by Settles before freshman Mackenzie Owens sent Settles home with a single.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was now or never for the Manatees as they went all in to at least tie the game. After the Manatees loaded the bases from a leadoff single by Koczersut and back-to-back walks by Lightbody and Hutcherson. Kopp would show her power once again, like in the first game, as she towered a grand slam to right to make it 7-6, still in favor of LLCC. It was Kopp's third home run of the season and her second of the series. The Loggers would then put Schaake in the game to pitch.

Hampton would then draw a walk before Hughes and Bogart hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Schaefer. On a full count, Schaefer was able to draw a walk and tie the game at 7-7 before going into extra innings with the Texas Tiebreaker in effect once again.

Even with sophomore Mackenzie Wagner placed on the second after being the last batter out, Hampton had no trouble breezing through to give the Manatees their opportunity. Lightbody would be the one to seal the deal as the Tampa native who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hutcherson before scoring the game-winner on a passed ball for the win.

Hulme and Behl were both dubbed with no decisions. Hulme gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in three and two-thirds, while Behl threw five scoreless innings with two walks.

Hampton would earn the win after giving up two unearned runs on two hits with four strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings of relief. She is now 4-3 on the year.

Schaake would be dubbed with her second straight loss after giving up one run on two hits with two walks in one and a third.

Hughes would lead the Manatees in the hit column as she finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen and 3-for-7 overall with two RBI.

Bogart (2-for-3, one walk) and Koczersut (2-for-5, one run scored) each had two hits. Koczersut would finish the series 3-for-7 with an RBI and two runs.

Kopp would finish 1-for-4 with the grand slam and 2-for-7 in the series with two home runs and seven RBI.

Schaefer and Salazar would have the team's final two hits. Schaefer (1-for-2) added two RBI and a walk.

Littrel led the Loggers in batting as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Virgin was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Virgin was the only Logger with a multi-RBI game.

Notes:
The two wins for Schuerman put her at 198 in her career and needs two to reach 200 career wins as head coach for the Manatees.

Up Next:
With non-conference set aside, the Manatees can now focus on conference play as they travel to Clearwater to take on St. Pete (21-11) Tuesday afternoon, March 17 at 4 and 6 pm.