"It was good to get a sweep at home despite having all those runner left on base in the first game," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We didn't really capitalize on that offensively like we could have. We did play good enough to win, but we can always do a little bit better. In the second game, we picked up a lot more of those runners left on base, so that kind of contributed to our high score during game two."
"Our talk after game one is that it didn't have to be pretty but it should be effective and I think it showed in game two that we weren't concerned with it being pretty, but just making sure we're punching the gaps."
"I feel like we started off slow in the first game," said sophomore Samantha Hampton. "Oakland was attacking a lot of our pitches right away and they were digging themselves deep in the count that we were working through it. We didn't attack out of the gate, but it definitely showed in the second game that we showed up to attack and actually win that time."
"We did start off slow and then we did see what the pitchers were actually throwing instead of just swinging at it and it helped us to be aggressive," said freshman Sam Carlin. "People starting taking bases and taking hits and it showed how aggressive we were."
"I think we had a lot of extra baserunning advantages where we were being smart on the basepaths," said sophomore Tori Copeland. "We did a good job not leaving as many runners on the bases in the second game compared to the first game."
Personal Note:
Before the opening game of the doubleheader, I was given the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch due to my loyal support for the softball team. I even got the ball signed afterwards. I never thought that would happen after such support for SCF softball since 2012.
Game One:
For game one, Schuerman sent Hampton to the mound, while Oakland CC athletic director and head coach Jamie Corona sent freshman Emma McGrath to counter.
After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would strike first in the bottom of the second as freshman Presley O'Kimosh would score on a passed ball. The next inning, sophomore Gracie Mullett would bunt a double to bring in Copeland to make it 2-0 SCF.
At the top of the third, the Lady Raiders would strike back as sophomore Sammy Michael would send a solo home run to left for her first of the season. But a calm Hampton would not let a home run given up phase her as she was able to get two strikeouts to end the third. At the top of the fifth, the Lady Raiders would tie the game at 2-2 thanks to an RBI single by sophomore Ivy Velazquez.
After a scoreless sixth and the Lady Raiders unable to take the lead at the top of the seventh, the Manatees had one last chance to get the walk-off win, beginning with a lead-off double from sophomore Mya Achenbach. One batter later, freshman Gabi Nicholson would draw walk to get on base. After Mullett popped out, all eyes turned to Carlin. On an 0-2 count, the local product from Riverview High School lined a single down the middle to send Achenbach home for the game-winner.
"When I was up to bat, what I had going through my mind was ' just want something that I can hit to the right side, so my fastest player (Mya Achenbach) can score and that's literally all I was thinking I fouled off two and they were inside, so I'm like 'ok, she threw me inside and then hit me with an outside pitch and watched it'," said Carlin on getting the game-winner. "This time I swung at it and Mya sped through it and we got the win."
Hampton would get the win after throwing a complete game, giving up two runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts. She is now 5-2 on the season and her fourth complete game this season.
"It feels great to pitch a full game every time on game day," said Hampton on throwing a complete game. "It definitely feels better with the defense I had to watch my back. It's because of them that I'm able to pitch complete games like this. Without them, I wouldn't be able to last as long in those games. I do pitch good, but they are definitely a good reason why I play longer."
McGrath would get the loss after giving up all three runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in three and two-thirds. Sophomore Hailey Minelli threw three scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and one walk.
Achenbach was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game in game one as she finished 2-for-4 with a run.
Mullett and Carlin were both 1-for-4 with an RBI each.
Nicholson (1-for-1, two walks), sophomores Hannah Murray (1-for-2, one walk) and Remi Hebert (1-for-3) and freshman Rylee Trice (1-for-3) had the remaining four hits, while Copeland (one run and one stolen base), sophomore Molly Starinsky (one stolen base) and freshman Olivia Siebert (one stolen base) also contributed in game one.
For the Lady Raiders, Velazquez and sophomore Sarah Griffith each had two hits, while Michael had 1-for-3 with the home run.
Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman went with Hebert while Corona went with sophomore Claudia Feldpausch.
At the top of the first, the Lady Raiders would draw first blood thanks to Michael's two-RBI double and scoring on a double steal play to make it 3-0.
While the Lady Raiders held the Manatees scoreless in the first two innings, little did they know that a big spark of offense grew in the bottom of the third inning for the Manatees, beginning with a lead-off walk by freshman Mikayla Disantis. After Hebert hit a single, Desantis would steal third before Achenbach was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Mullett. After fighting off a few foul balls, Mullett would draw a walk and bring Disantis home. Carlin would then send a single to left and bring in Hebert to the cut the deficit to 3-2. This would also signal a pitching change for the Lady Raiders as Minelli would enter the game. Nicholson would then ground into a fielder's choice and bring in Achenbach to tie the game at 3-3. On a 2-2 count, Copeland would send a single to left to bring in Mullett and Carlin and give the Manatees a 5-3 lead. O'Kimosh would then follow with an RBI double to bring in Nicholson before sophomore Alli Bloski hit an infield single to bring in Copeland.
The Manatees would bat around as Disantis would draw another walk, which signaled the end for Minelli as freshman Emily Meyer would come in to pitch only to hit Hebert so she can bring in O'Kimosh. Bloski would then score on a passed ball before the first out as Achenbach would send a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Desantis for a 10-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees decided to end it once and for all beginning with a lead-off single by Copeland. After freshman Renee Dixon drew a one-out walk, Disantis would hit a single to load the bases before Copeland scored on a passed ball to invoke the eight-run mercy rule. After Hebert drew another walk to load the bases, Feldpausch would return to the circle only for Achenbach to hit a bases-loaded two-RBI double to bring in Dixon and Disantis before Hebert scored on another Lady Raider passed ball to make it 14-3 SCF. From there, Carlin would finish the game with a final push to get the win for the Manatees.
Hebert would get the win after giving up three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in four innings. She would go to 3-1 for the year. Hebert was also 1-for-1 with an RBI, two walks and two runs and finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Carlin threw one scoreless inning with three strikeouts. She was also 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a stolen bases. At the plate, Carlin finished the series 3-for-8 with two RBI.
"Sam performed really well today," said Schuerman on Carlin. "She's been barreling up the ball well in practice and she had an opportunity today in a game and I think she took the opportunity to do so."
Feldpausch would get the loss after giving up five runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. Minelli would give up five runs on three hits with one walk in no innings of relief while Meyer gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in one and a third of relief.
Aside from Carlin's multi-hit game, Copeland finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs and a stolen base.
"I was trying to approach my game more aggressively," said Copeland on her game. "I thought I was kind of on my toes in the first game, so in the second game I hit the ball square to make something happen, even if it was on the ground. I just wanted to hustle really hard and I think I took advantage of a couple extra bases in the second game and it paid off."
Achenbach lead the team in RBI as she finished 1-for-3 with three RBI. She finished the series 3-for-7 with three RBI.
Disantis (1-for-1, three walks, one stolen base and three runs), O’Kimosh (1-for-3, one RBI and one run) and Bloski (1-for-2, one RBI and one run) had the remaining three hits, while Mullett (one RBI and one stolen base), Nicholson (one RBI) and Dixon (one walk and one run) also contributed.
Michael, Griffith and freshman Kyley Bland had the Lady Raiders' lone three hits. Michael was the only one with a multi-RBI game.
Notes:
This was wins #224 and 225 for Schuerman. She needs 25 to reach 250 and 16 to surpass Meredith Headings (240, 2007-14) for second all-time in wins.
This was Carlin's first postgame interview this season.
The 10-run third inning in game two was the second highest run total in an inning for Schuerman since 2017 (vs Lake Sumter, 22-11).
The series for Oakland was their season opener.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#1 FSW (21-2) split their series against Indian River State winning game one 9-7 before losing game two 7-6. The Buccaneers will face Miami Dade College for a doubleheader at home March 2.
St. Pete (10-12) swept Lake Sumter State at home by scores of 12-3 (5) and 3-1. The Lady Titans will welcome Oakland CC at home Tuesday, March 1.
Hillsborough (8-12) split their last series against Lake Sumter on Tuesday, February 22 winning game one 11-2 before losing game two 8-0 (6). The Lady Hawks will welcome former Suncoast Conference member South Florida State for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 1.
Polk State (5-9) split their doubleheader with Florida State College at Jacksonville on the road as they won game one 8-5 before losing game two 7-3. The Eagles will welcome Seminole State College of Florida Tuesday, March 1.
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. #1 FSW (21-2)
2. SCF (11-7)
3. SPC (10-12)
4. HCC (8-12)
5. Polk State (5-9)
Up Next:
The Manatees will have their next doubleheader at home as part of their six-game homestead as they welcome Lake Sumter State College (14-12) Thursday, March 3 at 4 and 6 pm.
