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| PC by K. Loveday |
Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team (16-12) wrapped up most of their non-conference doubleheaders as they split with Bryant and Stratton (9-7) at home losing game one 2-0 before winning game two 4-3.
"There is no getting around it, our offense is struggling and inconsistent," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "If we want to make a run for the postseason, our offense is going to need to show up on a more consistent basis."
I think in the first game, our defense was pretty solid even with a few errors," said sophomore Remi Hebert. "With our offense, we didn't have many bats coming around, but in the second game that definitely changed with our defense still playing pretty solid."
"I thought our offense really pulled together in the second game," said sophomore Hannah Murray. "We were swinging the bat more often and hitting better pitches."
Game One:
Schuerman sent sophomore Samantha Hampton to the mound, while Bryant and Stratton head coach Dean Herman went with sophomore Sydney Birling.
The first three innings of game one was a pitcher's dual as both Hampton and Birling exchanged strikeouts in each inning.
At the top of the fourth, the Bobcats would draw the first run after an RBI groundout by sophomore Olivia Tatlock. At the top of the seventh, they would add the final run as freshman Holly Wendling would score on a fielding error to make it 2-0 before the Bobcats took game one officially.
Hampton would fall to 7-5 after a complete game, giving up two unearned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Birling would earn the win after throwing a three-hit shutout with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Hebert and freshmen Tori Copeland and Liv Siebert had the Manatees lone three hits. Siebert added a stolen base before being pulled due to a broken finger.
Game Two:
Hoping to bounce back, Schuerman sent Hebert to the mound while Herman went with freshman Taylor Roughen to counter.
The Manatees would score first in the bottom of the first after sophomore Mya Achenbcach leadoff with a single and scored on a double steal attempt to make it 1-0. At the top of the third, the Bobcats would fire back as freshman Megan Verbeten would hit an infield single to tie the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless fourth, the Manatees wanted to regain their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After freshman Rylee Trice would single to right, Achenbach put the rocket thrusters on as she sent a triple to right to bring in Trice. Following that, sophomore Gracie Mullett pulled off a successful suicide squeeze bunt to bring in Achenbach before she was called out at first to make it 3-1 SCF.
At the top of the sixth, the Bobcats cut the deficit to one as freshman Khloe Hinkens would hit into an RBI groundout to make it 3-2 SCF, but the Manatees would respond back in the bottom half as Murray would send a towering shot to left for her first of the season for a 4-2 SCF lead.
"I was really just thinking that I had to get a hit since I was leading off the inning," said Murray on her home run. "I just really wanted to get on base and I knew the whole game the pitcher (Roughen) threw inside and continued to throw there throughout the whole game, so I knew I had to turn on that inside when I hit it."
"In my eyes, most of the time home runs are happy accidents," said Schuerman on Murray's home run. "I am happy that it happened for Hannah."
The Bobcats would add one more run from an RBI single by Birling to cut it to 4-3, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees took game two.
Hebert would move to 5-3 after throwing a complete game, giving up three runs on 11 hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Roughen would move to 3-5 after giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate with a stolen base.
Achenbach would be the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Murrary was 1-for-3 with the home run and an RBI.
Sophomore Alli Bloski (1-for-3), Trice (1-for-2, one run scored) and freshman Chantel Schurr (1-for-3, one stolen base) had the remaining three hits. Mullett (one RBI) and Copeland (one walk and one stolen base) also contributed in the game.
Freshman Bella Herman lead the Bobcats offense as she went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two stolen bases, while Birling was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Notes:
The win in game two was win #230 for Schuerman as she needs 20 wins to reach 250 career wins and 11 to surpass Meredith Michaels (née Headings: 240, 2007-14) for second all-time in wins.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#1 FSW (23-4) were upset in their doubleheader as they fell to #16 Gulf Coast State College (29-5) by scores of 7-1 and 8-0 (5). The Buccaneers will face RV Central Florida on the road Tuesday afternoon, March 15.
Hillsborough (11-17) split their series with RV Central Florida (25-9) losing game one 9-0 (5) before winning game two 9-1. The Hawks will open Suncoast play as they travel to Fort Myers for round robin games against #1 FSW and Polk State.
St. Pete (20-14) swept their doubleheader over Pasco-Hernando State (17-13) Sunday afternoon by scores of 9-8 (8) and 8-1. The Lady Titans will welcome Lake Region State College (5-7) for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 15.
Polk State (7-13) fell in their doubleheader to Seminole State College (20-15) by scores of 1-0 and 9-5. The Lady Eagles will welcome Madison College
Suncoast Standings:
1. #1 FSW (23-4)
2. SPC (20-14)
3. SCF (16-12)
4. HCC (11-17)
5. Polk (7-12)
Up Next:
The Manatees will now focus on Suncoast Conference play as they travel to Fort Myers for a round robin tournament against St. Pete and #1 FSW Saturday, March 19 at 10 am and 12 pm at City of Palms Park.
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