“Overall, I thought we had some good team wins and that is always a good thing,” said head coach Mandy Schuerman. “Our offense performed when needed and our pitching and defense made some mistakes, but stepped up when needed.”
“I think our energy was up in the beginning when we got here,” said Achenbach. We were all happy, dancing and talking. The energy was up all three games and our hitting and defense was really good.”
“It was definitely a good team win for us and it felt good to get the sweep,” said Hebert. “Our energy is up and we have to reset tomorrow for our next series.”
“It feels like a team win and we actually came together ready for it,” said sophomore Samantha Hampton. “It’s been a long time coming that we finally put it all together and we actually had fun the whole time and played good together.”
“Our team came out wanting to produce and execute,” said sophomore Ally Hulme. “These games are important to us to help make it a possibility to go to states so we made it a goal to win every inning. Our defense was strong throughout the 17 innings, allowing all of our pitchers to pound the zone.”
Game One:
Game one was resumed from a road game with the scored tied 2-2 in the fourth inning.
At the top of the fifth, Achenbach would get the go-ahead run as she sent an RBI single to bring in sophomore Lillian Salazar to make it 3-2 SCF before sealing the deal.
Herbert would have a no-decision after giving up two runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in two and a third.
Sophomore Samantha Hampton would get her second win of the season after throwing four and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with four strikeouts. She is now 2-5 on the season.
“Strategy-wise, depending on where they’re at in the box, we just want to jam them in and work them out,” said Hampton on her pitching. “I feel like having the defense behind me along with the offense really helped me get the win tonight.”
“Sam pitched really well today coming into some tough situations,” said Schuerman on Hampton. “I thought (Kristin) Kopp also through well, but Sam did a great job.”
Freshman Stephanie Derringer would be credited with the loss after throwing a complete game, giving up all three runs on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts. She is now 0-1 on the season.
Achenbach and sophomore Emily Hughes had the Manatees only two hits. Achenbach went 1-for-1 with an RBI and two walks, while Hughes finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Sophomore Mallory Gough and freshman Joneshika Novedo each had two hits. Gough had the only multi-RBI game for the Eagles.
Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sophomore Kristin Kopp to the mound while Polk State head coach Donna Byars sent sophomore Karie Abel to counter.
In the bottom of the first, Achenbach would open the offensive doors for the Manatees first as she towered a lead-off solo home run to left for her second of the season.
“It felt good,” said Achenbach on her home run. “We’ve been working on offense in the cages and in the bullpen, we’ve been tracking a lot, so it felt good to finally show it in the game.”
Following Achenbach’s lead-off homer, Herbert would then follow with a single before Kopp drew a walk and Hughes was hit by a pitch to load the bases, sophomore Kiersten Adams would send a single to center and bring in Hebert. Freshman Gracie Mullett would then bring in Kopp on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 SCF.
The Eagles would get their first run on the board as Derringer would send an RBI single to left to bring in freshman Alexis Hollinger, but the Manatees would respond back and extend the lead further. After sophomore Maddie Koczersut was hit by a pitch, Achenbach would lay down a bunt and reach base before rounding all the way home on a Eagle fielding error.
In the bottom of the fourth, Herbert would make a historical moment for herself as the Louisiana native towered a three-run homer to left to bring in Koczersut and sophomore Madi Schaefer to make it 8-1. It was Herbert’s first collegiate home run in her career.
“It definitely felt good getting my first collegiate home run,” said Herbert on her home run. “I was kind of in a slump before tonight and kind of got out of it. It feels good, but I try not to think about it so we can focus for the next series.”
“Remi has been barreling up the ball lately in practice and games, so it was no surprise to see her moment,” said Schuerman on Herbert’s home run.
At the top of the fifth, the Eagles started to creep up on the board from a two-RBI double by Gough, a two-RBI single by sophomore Saddie Stinson and a bases-loaded walk by freshman Tre Eady to make it 8-5, but the Manatee would add one more run off of a suicide squeeze bunt by Hampton that brought in Koczersut before sealing the deal for the win.
Kopp would earn her first win of the season after giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout in four and a third
Hampton threw two and a third scoreless innings of relief with one walk.
Abel would be hit with her fourth loss of the season after giving up all eight runs (six earned) on five hits with three walks and one strikeout in three and a third.
Sophomore Sofia Palazini gave up one run on one hit with one walk and two and two-thirds of relief.
Herbert was the only Manatee in game two with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. She also threw a third of an inning and gave up one run two hits with two walks.
Achenbach finished 1-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base and two runs.
“Just like Remi, Mya has been seeing the ball well the last couple of weeks,” said Schuerman on Achenbach.
Koczersut (1-for-1, one walk and three runs), Schaefer (1-for-2, one walk) and Adams (1-for-3, one RBI) had the remaining three hits.
For the Eagles, Derringer and sophomore Brianna Moffit lead the Eagles both batting 2-for-3. Derringer added an RBI, while Moffit added a walk.
Bough was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Game Three:
Schuerman decided to send Hulme to the mound, while Byar sent sophomore Lindsey Burns to counter.
It was a pitcher’s duel between Hulme and Burns for the first four innings, but Hulme was more on the upper end as she already was ahead with six strikeouts and a no-hitter in session.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mullett would be the one to finally get the first run on the board for the Manatees as she sent a double left to bring in Hughes for a 1-0 SCF lead.
At the top of the fifth, Hulme would lose the no-hitter as Stinson hit a lead-off single, but she was able to brush it off and breeze through the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees extend their lead. After a lead-off single by freshman Hannah Murray before classmate Marissa Addison came in to pinch run and stole second, sophomore Lauren Hutcherson would send Addison home with a double to center. Herbert would continue her offensive onslaught as she sent a single to left to bring in Hutcherson for a 3-0 SCF lead.
At the top of the sixth, Hulme put herself into a sticky situation after a walk and a fielding error put runners in scoring position, but a strikeout and two big pop outs proved no doubt for the Tampa native to get out of the sixth.
At the top of the seventh, the Eagles tried to get one more gasp of air to get something on the board, but a final fielder’s choice sealed the sweep for the Manatees.
Hulme would get her eighth win of the season after throwing a one-hit shutout with three walks and nine strikeouts. She is now 8-5 on the season.
“I’ve been working hard with trying to be productive on the mound and today showed my hard work is paying off,” said Hulme on her game. “I needed to go out there relaxed and believe in my spins and the rest will play out. Having a defense that is willing to put themselves out there to stop a ball helps me know it’s ok to pound the zone, and if the batter hits it my defense will be there to back up behind me.”
“Ally did a good job pounding the zone,” said Schuerman on Hulme.
Burns would fall to 0-2 after throwing four and two-thirds, giving up all three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Derringer threw one and a third scoreless innings of relief, while giving up two hits.
Herbert and Hughes were each 2-for-3. Herbert added an RBI and finished the three games 4-for-9 with a home run and four RBI, while Hughes added a run scored and
Achenbach finished 1-for-3 in game three and finished 3-for-8 with a home run.
Hutcherson and Mullet both went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Kopp and Murrart had the remaining two hits.
Notes:
The first game was resumed from March 18 due to a rain delay. SCF was the away team for that game.
The three wins were Schuerman’s were #209, #210 and #211 in her career as head coach.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #1 FSW (30-3, 13-0)
2. SPC (21-12, 7-2)
3. SCF (13-14-1, 6-6)
4. Polk (4-16, 4-8)
5. SFSC (7-22, 3-9)
6. HCC (7-23, 2-8)
Up Next:
The Manatees will continue conference as they travel to Fort Myers to take on #1 FSW Tuesday, April 13 at 4 and 6 pm.
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