“We played well today all around,” said head coach Mandy Schuerman. “The ladies did a great job at keeping the momentum on our side. Anytime we play well and win is important. In game one, I felt we were more disciplined in our offensive approach, but in both games we had great defense and pitching performances."
The team all around played great ball today and had fun," said sophomore Mya Achenbach. "It felt good to finally win, especially when it matters. Our energy was up the whole time and we had a lot of fun."
"The team's overall performance was great," said freshman Chantel Schurr. "The energy was great and I felt like we play today we really played as a team. There's not much more that you can do then gelling together and being able to play the way we did today. It felt great to get these two wins today. It showed us we are capable of it. We just have to play together to stay on the incline."
Game One:
Schuerman sent sophomore Remi Hebert to start game one while Polk head coach Donna Byers went with freshman Kailey Guethle.
The Manatees would draw first blood in the bottom of the first for their offense beginning with a leadoff walk by freshman Liv Siebert before sophomore Gracie Mullett drove a double to center to bring in Siebert. Classmate Tori Copeland would then reach base on a fielding error while Mullett scored to make it 2-0 SCF. The Manatees would then extend their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second after Siebert reached on a fielding error while freshman Rylee Trice scored.
The Eagles would score their first run at the top of the third from a Guethle RBI single to cut the Manatees’ lead to 3-1.
While the next three innings were scorleess, the Manatees would add their final runs of the game as Schurr, who missed the last four games due to sickness would send a two-run homer to left for her fourth of the season.
"It felt awful that I had to miss two of our conference games the day before and not being with my team," said Schurr. "Of course, any home run feels great and I was just glad that I could back my team up with more hits for us."
At the top of the seventh, the Eagles would add their final run of the game as sophomore Tre’Sor Eady hit an RBI single, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees got the win.
Hebert would earn her eighth win of the season after throwing a complete game, giving up two runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout. She is 8-5 on the year.
Guethle would fall to 2-2 after giving up five runs (three earned) on five hits with one walk in six innings. She was also 1-for-4 at the plate with one RBI.
Schurr would be the only Manatee with a multi-RBI game as she went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base. Mullett was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Copeland (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base), Achenbach (1-for-3, two stolen bases) and freshman Gabi Nicholson (1-for-3) had the remaining three hits, while Trice (one run and two stolen bases) and Siebert (one walk and one stolen base) also contributed in the game.
Freshman Jennie was the only Eagle with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a run.
Game Two:
Schuerman went with sophomore Samantha Hampton to start game two, while Byars went with sophomore Stephanie Derringer to counter.
The Manatees would draw first in the bottom of the first as freshman Mikayla Desantis hit an RBI double to bring in Achenbach for a 1-0 SCF lead. At the top of the second, the Eagles decided to take matters into their own hand offensively and take a 3-1 lead after sophomore Alexis Hollinger hit an RBI single, freshman Kanitria Antenor scored on a fielding error and Guethle hitting a sacrifice fly. It signaled the end for Hampton as Schuerman would send Mullett to the mound for relief work.
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees did not give up as they went to tie the game beginning with a Trice leadoff single before moving to second on a Siebert sacrifice bunt while setting up a scoring opportunity for Achenbach. On a 2-2 count, the Pennsylvania native would send her second triple to center and bring in Trice to cut the deficit to 3-2. Mullett would then bring Achenbach home with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
For the next three innings, it was a pitcher's dual between Mullett and Derringer until the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman Presley O'Kimosh would start by getting hit by a pitch before classmate Molly Starinsky came in to pinch run. After Trice bunted and reached base on a fielder's choice, Starinsky would get caught stealing while Trice stole second before moving to third on another Siebert sac bunt. All eyes turned to the US Air Force representative to bring in the game-winner. On a 1-1 count, Achenbach would send a single to center to bring in Trice for the walk-off win.
"I just wanted to have fun today and it showed today," said Achenbach on getting the game-winner.
Hampton would earn a no-decision after giving up all three runs (one earned) on two hits with one walk in one and two-thirds.
Mullett would go to 4-4 after throwing five and a third scoreless innings of relief, giving up four hits and striking out one batter. She also added one RBI to the mix
Derringer would fall to 1-3 after giving up all four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in six and two-thirds.
Achenbach would be the only Manatee in game two with a multi-hit and multi-RBI game as she went 3-for-4 with two RBI. DeSantis had the remaining RBI as she went 1-for-3.
Nicholson (1-for-3), Trice (1-for-4, two runs and a stolen base) and O'Kimosh (1-for-1) had the remaining three hits.
Hollinger was the only Eagle with a multi-hit game for game two as she went 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Notes:
For Schuerman it was wins #233 and #234 in her career. She needs 16 to reach 250 wins in her career and six to surpass Meredith Headings (240, 2007-14) for second all-time in wins as head coach for the Manatees.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #3 FSW (29-4, 4-0)
2. SPC (25-15, 3-1)
3. Polk State (12-16, 3-3)
4. SCF (20-16, 2-4)
5. HCC (12-22, 1-5)
Up Next:
Up Next, the Manatees will be back on the road for conference play as they travel to Fort Myers Tuesday night, March 29 against #3 Florida Southwestern State (29-4, 4-0 Suncoast). Game times are at 5 and 7 pm.
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