Hutcherson’s Two Homer Game Helps SCF SB to Split

Bradenton, Fla - Sophomore Lauren Hutcherson’s offensive charge in the second game played a key role as the SCF softball team (14-17-1, 7-9 Suncoast) wrapped up their final Suncoast Conference doubleheader at home at the SCF Softball Complex as they split with Hillsborough (8-24, 3-9 Suncoast) losing game one 2-1 before winning game two 9-1 in six innings via mercy rule. With the split, the Manatees are now 29-9 overall against the Hawks and split the overall series at 2-2.

Game One:

Schuerman sent sophomore Samantha Hampton to the mound, while HCC head coach Elizabeth Holloman sent freshman Ashleigh Penix to counter.

The Hawks would score first at the top of the first after an RBI single by sophomore Savannah Jones. The Hawks would then extend the lead to 2-0 after an RBI groundout by freshman Ariana Manzanarez.

The Manatees were then able to avoid being shutout in the bottom of the fifth as freshman Mya Achenbach sent an RBI single to center to bring in sophomore Maddie Koczersut, but it was all they could produce as the Hawks would win the game.

Hampton would fall to 2-6 after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with one walk in four and a third. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate.

Sophomore Ally Hulme threw two and two-third scoreless, hitless innings of relief with one walk and six strikeouts.

Penix would earn her first win of the season after throwing a seven-hit complete game, giving up one run with one walk. She is now 1-3 on the season.

Achenbach and sophomore Madi Schaefer each had two hits. Achenbach added a stolen base to go along with the lone RBI.

Koczersut (1-for-3, one run) and sophomore Kiersten Adams (1-for-1) had the remaining two hits.

Game Two:

Hoping to bounce back from the loss, Schuerman sent Hulme back to the mound to start game two while Holloman sent freshman Marisa Mellone to counter.

In a turnaround, the Manatees would score first in the bottom of the first as freshman Remi Herbert sent a one-out solo blast to center for her second home run of the season.

By the bottom of the third, the Manatees then extended their lead further. After freshman Hannah Murrary lead off the inning reaching second on a fielding error and Achenbach hitting a single before stealing second, Hutcherson showed her offense side as she sent a three-run blast to left for her fifth home run of the season to give the Manatees a 4-0 lead. This would signal the end for Mellone as Holloman made a pitching change and sent sophomore Madison Taylor to the mound.

The Hawks would try to respond with their first run of the game at the top of the fourth from an RBI single by Jones, but the Manatees would push back in the bottom of the fifth. After sophomore Carly Bogart lead off the inning with a triple and Herbert drew a walk, Hutcherson would once again show her power game as she sent her second three-run home run of the game to make it 7-1 SCF. It was Hutcherson’s sixth home run of the season.

Murrary would then show power of her own in the bottom of the fifth as she hit a lead-off solo homer for second home run of the season. After Achenbach hit a single and Herbert drew a walk, Hutcherson would seal the mercy rule win as she lined a single to center to bring in Achenbach for the win.

Hulme would earn the win and move to 9-6 on the season after throwing a six-inning one hit complete game, giving up one run with two walks and a career-high 15 strikeouts. Hulme finished with 21 strikeouts combined in both games.

Mellone would fall to 0-4 after giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout in two and two-thirds.

Taylor gave up five runs on five hits with two walks in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

Hutcherson finished 3-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBI. In fact, it was her collegiate multi-home run game.

“I was very happy with my performance in the second game,” said Hutcherson. “I knew I struggled in the first game and had to come back and help my team, so I went up to the plate with an open mind and tried to keep it simple by just saying to myself ‘See ball, hit ball’.”

Achenbach finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases. She finished the series 4-for-7 with three stolen bases.

Herbert and Murrary both had a home run and two runs scored each, while Bogart (1-for-3, one run) had the remaining hit.

Jones had the lone hit for the Hawks as she went 1-for-2 with the lone RBI.

Up Next:

The Manatees are back on the road as they travel to Clearwater to take on St. Pete (22-12, 8-2 Suncoast) in a doubleheader rematch Saturday afternoon, April 17 at 1 and 3 pm.