"It always feel good to win," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We do have some things we need to button up and focus on to be more consistent, but today in game two they found a way to win."
"Our pitching staff has been solid this year thus far," said Schuerman on her pitchers. "I couldn't be prouder of them for their hard work today."
"Overall, the team was focused and ready to put on a show from the outset," said freshman Chantel Schurr. "The first game was fast-paced and exciting and we never took our foot off the gas. We came out swinging the bat in the second game, but not finding as many holes and stringing hits together as we had in the first fame. It just happens."
"The key goal was to play as a team instead of just being satisfied. When it comes to what our coaches and ourselves expect, stringing hits together, playing as a team and working for one another are critical."
"We really came together as a team to get the sweep," said sophomore Samantha Hampton. "We had a few mistakes here and there, but we had each other's backs and picked each other up throughout the whole day."
SCF vs Southern Idaho:
For game one, Schuerman sent Hampton to the mound, while Southern Idaho head coach Nick Baumert sent sophomore Kenzie Waters to counter.
It would be the Manatees that would get the first runs on the board at the top of the first. After back-to-back singles by sophomore Mya Achenbach and freshman Olivia Siebert, followed by freshman Presley O’Kimosh drawing a one-out walk to load the bases, sophomore Gracie Mullett would reach base on a outfielding error while bringing in Achenbach. Sophomore Chantel Schurr would then groundout to third while bringing in Siebert to make it 2-0 SCF.
After the next three innings were silent for both teams, the Manatees would then extend their lead at the top of the fifth. Achenbach and Siebert would first hit back-to-back bunt singles and be in scoring position. This would signal the end for Waters as Baumert would send freshman Brooke Merrill to the mound.
After the pitching change, Achenbach would score on a passed ball while Siebert advanced to third. After freshman Gabi Nicholson struck out, O’Kimosh would groundout to second to bring in Siebert to make it 4-0 SCF.
While the Manatees bats were going, Hampton continued her dominance on the mound as she would push to get out after out, even while she had trouble with runners on base, but the Lithia native would breeze through the inning with ease.
At the top of the seventh, the Manatees would add their final run on the board as Mullett would hit an RBI double to bring in Siebert to make it 5-0 SCF.
The Golden Eagles would try one last time to get a run on the board and they would thanks to a sacrifice fly by freshman Perla Duran, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees would get the win
Hampton would go to 2-0 on the season after throwing a complete game, giving up one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
"When I was warming up, I did not feel great about it at first and I told my team I needed them to have my back on defense and offense and they delivered," said Hampton on her game. "I was able to count on them, even though my best pitch was not working. It was definitely a team win and they had my back throughout the whole game."
Waters would be credited with the loss after giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk in four innings. She is now 1-2 on the year.
Merrill would give up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Siebert would be the leader at the plate as she went 4-for-4 with three runs and a stolen base. Achenbach would also get a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 with two runs.
Mullett and Schurr were both 1-for-4 with an RBI while sophomore Tori Copeland was 1-for-3 with a double for the remaining hit.
Sophomore Brynne Tolley would be the only Golden Eagle with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-2 with a walk.
SCF vs Miami Dade:
For game two, Schuerman would have sophomore Remi Hebert return to the mound, while MDC head coach Gina De Augero sent freshman Vikky Navaro to counter.
Once again, the Manatees would get on the board first in the bottom of the first beginning with an Achenbach lead-off walk. After advancing to second on a Siebert sacrifice bunt, freshman Gabi Nicholson would send a double to deep right to bring in Achenbach. Following that, O'Kimosh would send a line drive single to left to bring in Nicholson to make it 2-0.
The Sharks would then tie the game at 2-2 at the top of the third after a bases loaded double by freshman Allison Morales. The next top of the inning, the Sharks would take the lead after a suicide squeeze play by Beatrice Narazaki for a 3-2 MDC lead.
After a scoreless fifth, the Manatees decided to push themselves to get the sweep. After Mullett leadoff the inning reaching second on a fielding error, Schurr would be the hero to save the Manatees as she hit her first collegiate home run to center to give SCF a 4-3 lead.
"It felt amazing to be able to contribute to our runs as a whole with my first home run for the Manatees," said Schurr on her home run. "It may have gone differently if there had been no runners on base to help. Personally, I wouldn't put myself forward as the reason for the game's victory because we all fought hard and scratched our way to the top."
"It was nice to see different players step up for each game and I'm happy that Chantel got her first collegiate home run," said Schuerman on Schurr's first home run. "I'm also happier when we string a bunch of hits together."
From there, Mullett, who entered in the game for Hebert at the top of the sixth, would seal the deal with a final groundout and the win.
"I think the turning point for game two was we knew we were down and needed at least a run to stay in it. We ended up getting a runner on third with one out and Chantel came and not only knocked in the runner, but also had a two-run home run to put us in the lead."
Hebert would get a no-decision after giving up three runs (one earned) on nine hits with one walk in five innings. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate.
Mullett would get the win after throwing two scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit and one walk. She is now 3-0 on the season. Additionally, Mullett was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Navarro would be credited with the loss after throwing giving up all four runs (three earned) on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts. She is now 0-2 on the year.
Nicholson and O'Kimosh both had a multi-hit game as they each went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nicholson added a run scored.
Schurr and Achenbach were both 1-for-3 with a run each. Schurr had the home run and two RBI and was the only Manatee with a multi-RBI game against MDC.
Copeland had the remaining hit as she went 1-for-1.
For the Sharks, sophomores Melissa Leon and Brianna Romaguera were both 2-for-3 at the plate, while Morales was the only Shark with a multi-RBI game as she went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Notes:
This was wins #218 and #219 for Schuerman. She needs 31 more to reach 250 career wins as head coach.
This was Hebert's first game of the season after being away for personal reasons.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#1 FSW (7-1) split a doubleheader with College of Southern Idaho in their hosted invitational winning game one 5-0 before getting upset in game two by a score of 6-5 Thursday on day one of their hosted invitational. On day two, they defeated Lakeland College 19-3 in five innings before defeating #4 Salt Lake 9-5. The Buccaneers will wrap up their invitational as they face NAIA St. Thomas University JV and #3 DII Louisburg Saturday, February 5 at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm.
St. Pete (4-4) split against St. John's River State (3-2) losing game one 12-9 before winning game two 10-4. The Lady Titans will travel to New Port Richey to take on Pasco-Hernando State (4-2) in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon, February 6.
Hillsborough (2-5) split with Seminole State College of Florida winning game one 14-4 before losing game two 10-0 in five innings. The Hawks return to action on the road Saturday afternoon, February 5
against Daytona State (2-7).
Polk State (0-2) will face Daytona State Monday evening, February 7.
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. FSW (8-1)
2. SCF (5-1)
3. SPC (4-4)
4. HCC (2-5)
5. Polk State (0-2)
Up Next:
The Manatees are still on the road as they travel to Leesburg to take on Lake Sumter State College (6-2) for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, February 5 at 1 and 3 pm.
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