“We were learning to compete and growing in our knowledge of the game,” said Schuerman. “That was really good for us to see.”
“I think we worked well as a team and were able to get timely hits and make plays in the field,” said sophomore Emily Hughes. “Our hitting came alive and the pitching really stuck through until the end. I believe we competed with them and would have pulled through with two wins if we weren’t cut short in our second game.
Game One:
Schuerman sent sophomore Ally Hulme to the mound, while Webber head coach Kristy Burton sent freshman Kayla Swinson to counter.
After a scoreless first, the Manatees would get on the board first at the top of the second. After back-to-back singles by Hughes and freshman Gracie Mullett, sophomore Samantha Hampton would bring the first run in with a single to left to bring in Hughes. After sophomore Madi Schaefer drew a walk to load the bases, classmate Lillian Salazar would send a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Mullett to make it 2-0 SCF before the end of the inning.
At the top of the third, Hampton would extend the Manatees lead to 3-0 with another RBI single to center to bring in sophomore Kristin Kopp before the end of the inning.
Two innings later, it would be Hughes time to shine as the local product of Lakewood Ranch product would send a two-run homer to left to make it 5-0 SCF. This was her second home run of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Warriors would finally get on the board after an RBI groundout by junior Morgan Mills, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees took their second win.
Hulme would earn her second win of the season after a throwing a one-hit complete game, giving up one run with six walks and 10 strikeouts.
“Ally continues to work on keeping her pitch counts lower and pound the zone,” said Schuerman on Hulme. “Overall, we were happy with performance whether it’s a win or loss.”
Swinson would get the loss after giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in four innings.
Mills gave up two runs on two hits with six walks and two strikeouts in two innings of relief.
Hughes and Hampton would be the heroes of game one as they both finished with two hits and two RBI each. Hughes (2-for-2) added two walks and two stolen bases, while Hampton (2-for-3) added a walk and a steal.
Mullett (1-for-4, one run scored), Kopp (1-for-2, two runs scored, two walks and a stolen base) and sophomores Maddie Koczersut (1-for-4, one stolen base) and Carly Bogart (1-for-4, one stolen base) had the Manatees remaining hits.
Senior Aja Eglton had the Warriors lone hit, while Mills had the lone RBI.
Game Two:
Schuerman decided to send freshman Remi Herbert to the mound while Burton sent grad student Dariyen Moss to counter.
Once again, the Manatees would get on the board first at the top of the second, beginning with a leadoff walk by sophomore Kiersten Adams, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Ava Coticchio and advancing to third on a Mullett fielder’s choice. As Herbert was up to the plate, Adams was able to take advantage of a fielding error and score the first run before Herbert drew a walk. After Salazar struck out, sophomore Lauren Hutcherson would send a hard single to left and bring in Mullett for a 2-0 SCF lead.
The Warriors would get on the board in the bottom half after an RBI single by junior Katey Sanders to cut the deficit to 2-1 still in favor of SCF.
At the top of the third, the Manatees decided to extend the lead. After back-to-back singles by Hughes and Adams, Mullett would send a first pitch double to left and bring in Hughes and Adams while advancing to third to make it 4-1 SCF. After a Herbert walk, Salazar would pulll a suicide squeeze bunt attempt that turned into a RBI single to bring in Mullett before Burton made a change and sent freshman Jenna Chaudion to the mound for a relief appearance to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Warriors would get their second run of the game thanks to an RBI double by junior Krista Hoyt to make it 5-2 still in SCF’s favor. Herbert was still able to get out of the inning while being in a situation with runners in scoring position.
The Warriors would then take advantage of a couple of fielding errors as they scored their third and fourth runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-4 still SCF. Schuerman decided to make a pitching change and send Kopp to the mound, while sending Adams from catcher to first base and send freshman Hannah Murrary behind the plate to catch.
The Warriors would eventually take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after a two-RBI double by junior Abigail Thompson made 6-5 in favor of Webber, but at the top of the sixth, Adams would tie the game at 6-6 by sending Hughes home with a sacrifice fly before the game ended in a tie due to the end of daylight and the stadium having no lights to continue the game.
Neither Herbert nor Moss got a decision. Herbert threw three and a third innings, giving up all six runs (four earned) on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts, while Moss gave up five runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings.
Kopp and Chaudion also got no-decisions from their relief appearance. Kopp threw two and two-thirds scorless innings, giving up one hit and striking out one batter, while Chaudion gave up one run on one hit with four walks and one strikeout in three and a third innings.
Hughes was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base. She finished the series 4-for-5 with two RBI, four runs and three stolen bases.
Mullett had the only multi-RBI game for game two as she finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Hutcherson (1-for-4, one RBI and two walks), Salazar (1-for-2, one RBI and one walk) and Adams (1-for-2, two walks, one RBI and two runs) had the Manatees remaining three hits.
Thompson and Sanders each had two hits and at least one RBI.
Notes:
The main story was on Schuerman as she reached the milestone of 200 career wins as the head coach for the SCF softball team. Schuerman has been the head coach for the Manatees since 2014.
“200 wins doesn’t celebrate me, it celebrates the program and all the past players that been the real reason those wins take place,” said Schuerman on her 200th win. “We also wouldn’t be there where we are as a program without Michelle Puls, Tony Cummings and DJ Bennett helping me out and they’re just as important to the team. I’m just a small piece of a very big puzzle.”
“I’m happy to apart of it,” said Hughes on Schuerman’s 200th win milestone. “I’m super excited to continue to be apart of it and hit her next milestone to 300.
Up Next:
The Manatees return home to the SCF Softball Complex as they welcome Miami Dade (2-4) Friday night, February 12 at 4 and 6 pm.
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