SCF vs Seminole State:
For game one against Seminole State, head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Brielle Bostow to the mound, while Seminole State head coach Courtney Miller went with freshman Tori Beland.
The Raiders would strike first at the top of the first as sophomore Brianna Abel would hit an RBI single, but the Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Tori Copeland would bring in freshman Haley Rosenbaum while reaching on a fielding error to tie the game at 1-1.
For the next six innings, it remained a pitcher's battle between Bostow and Beland as both traded strikeouts. The battle would send the game to extra innings with the Texas Tiebreaker rule in effect.
At the top of the eighth, the Lady Raiders would take the lead off of an RBI groundout by sophomore Paige Weinmann to make it 2-1. The Manatees would try to tie the game with the bases loaded, but were unable to do so as the Lady Raiders took the game.
Bostow would fall to 3-5 after throwing a eight inning complete game, giving up two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Beland would bump up to 4-1 after throwing a eight inning complete game, giving up one run on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Rosenbaum (1-for-3, one run), Copeland (1-for-2, one RBI and one walk) and sophomore Olivia Siebert (1-for-3) had the Manatees three hits, while freshman Alissa Kessler (two walks) also contributed in the game.
For the Lady Raiders, freshman Alissa Julien had the only multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 at the plate.
SCF vs Eastern Florida State:
Looking to bounce back, Schuerman went with freshman Karsyn Rutherford to start game two, while Eastern Florida State head coach Shelby Petik went with sophomore Trinity Howard.
After a scoreless first, the Manatees would strike first at the top of the second beginning with a Kessler and sophomores Presley O'Kimosh and Chantel Schurr hit three straight singles to load the bases. Rutherford would then groundout while sending Kessler home for the first run of the game. Freshman Taylor Halback would then show her bat off as she sent a single to center to bring in O'Kimosh before Schurr scored on a fielding error to make it 3-0 SCF.
In the bottom of the second, the Lady Titans would score their first run of the game off the bat of freshman Boo Swoyer. One inning later, they would tie the game at three after an RBI single by freshman Ava Bassani and an RBI double by classmate Marisa Shoudt.
At the top of the fourth, the Manatee would regain their lead beginning with a Halback walk. After a single by Copeland and Siebert laying down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to scoring position, Rosenbaum would get hit by a pitch to load the bases for Kessler. On a 2-2 count, the former FAU Owl would send a single to right to bring in Halback and Copeland to make it 5-3 before O'Kimosh brought in Rosenbaum and Kessler to make it 7-3 SCF.
The Lady Titans would cut the Manatees lead to one run in the bottom of the seventh after an RBI double by freshman Sam Clark, an RBI groundout by classmate Faith Campos and another RBI single by Bassani, but a final flyout would give the Manatees the win and avoid being swept.
Rutherford would earn the win after throwing a complete game, giving up six runs (four earned) on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts, while bringing in one RBI. She is now 5-3 this season.
Howard would fall to 4-3 after giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings and was 2-for-4 with a run at the plate. Freshman Kate Wisor would throw three and a third scoreless innings of relief with one walk and one strikeouts.
Kessler would lead the way in hitting and RBI as she finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Halback followed batting 1-for-3 with one RBI, one run, one walk and one stolen base.
Rosenbaum (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base), O'Kimosh (1-for-3, one run and one walk) and Schurr (1-for-3, one run) had the remaining three hits, while sophomore Gabi Nicholson (one walk) and freshman Stephanie Oaks (one walk) also contributed in the game.
For the Lady Titans, apart from Howard, Bassani and sophomore Rachel Lamoureaux each had two hits. Bassani also had two RBI.
Notes:
With the win over Eastern Florida State, Schuerman earned her 250th win as head coach for the Manatees. She is now 50 away from reaching 300 wins.
Other Suncoast Scores:
St. Pete (9-8) finished 1-2 in their portion of day one of the Courtney Miller Invitational as they defeated Miami Dade (11-9) 8-5 while losing to #14 Chipola College (11-10) 5-3 and #12 Central Florida 8-0 (5). The Lady Titans will play Daytona State (14-12) and #1 Florida Southwestern (11-2) on day three of the invitational (Sunday, February 26).
Hillsborough (9-10) completed a four-game sweep at the two-day Hinds JUCO Classic in Vicksburg, Mississippi. They swept Eastern Mississippi CC (3-15) 8-0 (5) and host Hinds CC (2-8) 7-3 on day one before sweeping Southwest Mississisppi CC (6-6) 11-7 and Meridian CC (4-8) 6-2. The Hawks will return to Florida to take on #12 College of Central Florida (18-4) for a doubleheader Thursday afternoon, March 2 at 2 and 4 pm
Polk State (6-6) swept St. Thomas University JV in a doubleheader by score of 5-3 and 11-0. The Eagles will take on South Florida State (6-14) Tuesday night, February 28 at 4 and 6 pm.
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. SCF (11-9)
2. St. Pete (9-8)
3. Polk State (6-6)
4. Hillsborough (9-10)
Up Next:
The Manatees remain on the road for the next doubleheader as they travel to Ocala to take on #12 Central Florida Tuesday afternoon, February 28 at 1 and 3 pm.
