Bradenton, Fla - Freshman Gabi Nicholson's offensive game in game one and classmate Mikayla DeSantis' offensive spark in both games played big roles as the SCF softball team (18-16, 0-4 Suncoast) wrapped up their final non-conference doubleheader at home sweeping Morton College (2-6) 15-3 via mercy rule and 7-0.
"I thought we played well on all sides of the ball today," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "Morton has a good coaching staff and look forward to playing them again in the future."
"It feels great to be back like the old team we were," said Nicholson. "I think we did great today, we were never satisfied with the score and we wanted to continue scoring to the end."
Game One:
Schuerman sent sophomore Remi Hebert to the mound, while Morton head coach Aaron Moore sent freshman Kennedi Meinecke to counter.
The Manatees would draw first blood beginning with a one-out single from freshman Liv Siebert. After Siebert stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, sophomore Gracie Mullett would bring in Siebert on a groundout. After back-to-back two-out singles by DeSantis and freshman Tori Copeland, Nicholson would ignite her power as the Tennessee native sent a three-run homer to right for her second of the season. Classmate Rylee Trice would then hit a single and steal second before sophomore Hannah Murray sent a hard single to center to bring in Trice for a 5-0 SCF lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees continued their offensive onslaught. After back-to-back one out singles by Trice and Murray with Trice stealing second, sophomore Mya Achenbach would send a single of her own to bring in Trice. After Siebert hit a single to load the bases, Mullett would clear the bases as the Lakewood Ranch product hit a double to bring in Murray, Achenbach and Siebert before scoring when DeSantis reached on a fielding error before stealing second. Copeland would then single to center to bring in DeSantis for an 11-0 SCF.
At the top of the fourth, Schuerman would pull Hebert and send freshman Samantha Carlin to the mound. Despite putting two runners on base, Carlin was able to get out of the fourth with two strikeouts.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would add their final runs of the game. After loading the bases from walks drawn by Carlin and Siebert and an Achenbach single, freshman Molly Starinsky would get hit by a pitch and bring in Carlin. Desantis would send a double to left to bring in Achenbach and Siebert before Copeland grounded out while brining in Starinsky to make it 15-0 SCF.
At the top of the fifth, the Panthers would get their first runs of the game as sophomore Jacklyn Roney would send a three-run shot to left for her first of the season, but that was all the Panthers could produce as the Manatees pulled away with the mercy rule.
Hebert would move to 7-5 after throwing three scoreless innings, giving up one hit with three strikeouts. Carlin would give up three runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts in two innings of relief while scoring one run and drawing one walk.
Meinecke would fall to 1-2 after giving up 11 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits with one strikeout in two and two-thirds. Freshman Heather Ward would give up four runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout in one and a third of relief.
Eight players had at least two hits each. Siebert would lead all the Manatees in hitting as she went 3-for-3 with three runs, a walk and a stolen base.
Mullett and Nicholson would be the offensive leaders. Mullett would go 2-for-3 with four RBI and one run, while Nicholson went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Nicholson also made a big defensive play at the top of the third inning.
"I thought I did pretty solid," said Nicholson on her game. "I had a good mindset going up to the plate and behind the plate.
Copeland and DeSantis were both 2-for-4 with two RBI each. Copeland added one run, while DeSantis added a stolen base and two runs.
Achenbach (2-for-4, one RBI and two runs), Murray (2-for-3, one RBI and one run) and Trice (2-for-3, two runs and two stolen bases) had the remaining six hits, while Starinsky (one RBI and one run) also contributed in the game.
Roney had the only multi-RBI game as she finished 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while Ward and sophomore Paulina Viveros had the remaining two hits.
Game Two:
For game two, Schuerman sent Mullett to the mound while Moore went with Ward.
After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would score first in the bottom of the second as Trice scored on a passed ball. In the bottom of the third, the Manatees would add on to their lead. After Achenbach lead off with a double, Siebert would hit a bunt single and bring in Achenbach before stealing second. After Mullett flew out, DeSantis would show her true power as the Riverview High product would hit her first collegiate home run of the season to left for a 4-0 SCF lead.
After a scoreless fourth, the Manatees would add their final runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth beginning with a Siebert leadoff double before Mullett would send a double of her own to bring in Sibert. DeSantis would then send a deep triple to right and bring in Mullett before Copeland hit an RBI single to make it 7-0 SCF.
In the final two innings, it was all smooth sailing for the pitchers as they finessed their way to a shutout win.
Mullett would get her third win of the season after throwing three scoreless innings, giving up one hit with three strikeouts while also going 1-for-4 with an RBI. She is now 4-4 on the year. Mullett would finish 3-for-7 with five RBI and two runs.
Sophomore Samantha Hampton would throw four scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with one walk and one strikeout while batting 1-for-2 at the plate.
"Our pitching staff typically thrives when we pound the strike zone," said Schuerman on her pitchers. "We need to continue to make hitters hit our pitches."
Ward would fall to 1-2 after giving up seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits with one walk and two strikeouts in five innings. Meinecke would throw one scoreless inning of relief, giving up one hit and striking out one batter.
DeSantis would be the offensive leader of game two as she finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. In the overall series, DeSantis would finish 4-for-8 with a home run, five RBI and one stolen base.
"Mik has been a pretty consistent hitter throughout," said Schuerman on DeSantis. "She has had some sickness and injury that kept her out, but today she found her groove."
Sibert would be the overall leading hitter as she went 4-for-4 with two runs, one RBI and four stolen bases and finished 7-for-7 with five runs, one RBI and five stolen base.
Copeland (1-for-4, one RBI and one stolen base), Achenbach (1-for-4, one run), Trice (1-for-3, one run) and freshmen Presley O'Kimosh (1-for-2, one stolen base) and Renee Dixon (1-for-3) had the remaining five hits.
For the Panthers, sophomore Yellen Torrado had their only two hits as she went 2-for-2 and was the only one with a multi-hit game.
Notes:
For Schuerman, this was wins #231 and #232. She needs 18 to reach 250 wins in her career and nine to surpass Meredith Headings (240, 2007-14) for second all-time in wins as head coach for the Manatees.
Fun Fact:
The Manatees finished 10-2 against non-Florida team.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#3 FSW (29-4, 4-0 Suncoast) swept Hillsborough (12-22, 1-5 Suncoast) on the road by scores of 18-8 and 13-4.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #3 FSW (29-4, 4-0)
2. SPC (25-15, 3-1)
3. Polk State (12-14, 3-1)
4. HCC (12-22, 1-5
5. SCF (18-16, 0-4)
Up Next:
The Manatees now resume Suncoast Conference play as they welcome Polk State (12-14, 3-1) Saturday afternoon, March 26 at 1 and 3 pm.
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