Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team (10-6, 4-4 Citrus) were able to secure their first sweep in Citrus Conference play as they defeated Miami Dade (7-10, 5-4 Citrus) 5-1 and 11-1 (5) at home.
"We had two good team wins today," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We were able to carry over ou practice to our game, which felt really good. I told the team that we need to be present in the moment and focus on what we can do as a team.
"I thought the team did great," said sophomore Jaylin Padro. "We all worked really well together as a team and that showed in our outcome. It felt really good to have our first sweep in conference play as we played like the team we are. After this sweep, we all feel like no one can beat us."
Game One:
Schuerman sent freshman Julianna Stachowicz (4-1, 1.22 ERA) to start game one, while Miami Dade head coach Gina De Aguero went with freshman Aimi Tohara (4-4, 2.82 ERA) to counter.
In the bottom of the first, the Manatees would draw on the scoreboard first as sophomore Alissa Kessler would send a double to left-center to bring in sophomore Haley Rosenbaum for the first run of the game.
At the top of the second, Stachowicz faced a little trouble with a runner on base. After freshman Jaiden Tretter hit a single, classmate Gessenia Hernandez, the runner on first, would try to score off of the single, but strong teamwork by Rutherford, Rosenbaum and sophomore Taylor Halback lead them to tag Hernandez out at home and prevent her from scoring to end the to of the second.
The Manatees would then increase their in the bottom of the second beginning with leadoff single by freshman Ryleigh Bennett. After classmate Lydia Denton moved Bennett with a sacrifice bunt, sophomore Karsyn Rutherford would reach first on a fielding error while Bennett scored before stealing second. After classmate Stephanie Oaks drew a walk and Rosenbaum reached first on a fielding error, Rutherford would score on the same error to make it 3-0 SCF.
The Sharks would then get on the board at the top of the third as freshman Dana Piri would bring in the run with a bases-loaded walk. The Manatees would respond in the bottom half of the inning as Kessler would showcase her power with a leadoff solo home run to center for her first of the season.
At the top of the fourth, Schuerman would pull Stachowicz and send Bennett to the mound to pitch in relief to success. In the bottom half of the inning, Stachowicz would bring in the Manatees' final run of the game as she sent a double to center to bring in freshman Avery Arrington to make it 5-1 SCF. From there, Bennett would finish off the rest of the game to seal the victory for game.
Stachowicz would improve to 5-1 after giving up one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in three innings. She was also 1-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. Bennett would throw four scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits with three strikeouts. She was also 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Tohara would fall to 4-5 after throwing giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings.
Kessler would lead the Manatees in hitting and offense as she went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. She was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game for game one.
Oaks (1-for-2, one walk and one stolen base), Denton (1-for-2) and freshman Hailey Margetis (1-for-3) had the remaining three hits, while Arrington (one run), Rosenbaum (one run, one walk and one stolen base) and Rutherford (one run, one walk and two stolen bases) also contributed in the game.
Hernandez, Piri, Tretter and freshman Kiana Kedena each had one of the Sharks' four hits.
Game Two:
Looking to complete the sweep, Schuerman sent Stachowicz back to the mound to start game two, while De Aguero went with freshman Carina Amarilla (0-1, 3.92 ERA).
The Sharks would get on the board first at the top of the first as Hernandez would drive in a run with a bases loaded walk. After not scoring in the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would respond in the bottom of the second as Kessler would once again show her power and send a leadoff solo homer to left for her second of the season. After a single by Bennett before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Denton and freshman Saremi Flores drawing a walk, Padro would send a single to right to bring in Bennett and give the Manatees a 2-1 lead. After Rutherford drew a walk to load the bases, Rosenbaum would draw a walk of her own and bring Flores home to make it 3-1 SCF.
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees would pull off one of their best innings this season beginning with leadoff single by Kessler before freshman Olivia Rogers came in to pinch run. After Bennett drew a walk and Denton moved both runners to scoring position with another sacrifice bunt, Flores would send a single to center to bring in Rogers and Bennett for her first collegiate hit. After a single by Padro, Rutherford would hit an infield single to short to bring in Flores before Rosenbaum loaded the bases with a walk. After Margetis hit into a fielder's choice to reload the bases, Stachowicz would reach base on a fielding error while Rutherford and Rosenbaum score before Kessler, Bennett and Denton would hit three straight RBI singles to make it 11-1 SCF before they sealed the victory for the sweep and invoke the mercy rule.
Stachowicz would improve to 6-1 after giving up one unearned run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts in three innings. Sophomore Brielle Bostow would throw two scoreless innings of relief while giving up one hit.
Amarilla would fall to 0-2 after giving up three runs on two hits with four walks in one and a third innings. Freshman Lais Ihy would give up eight runs (three earned) on eight hits with three walks in two and two-thirds innings of relief.
Kessler would lead the way in offense as she went 3-for-3 with a home run, two run and two RBI. She would finish 5-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI in both games.
"Alissa needed to shorten up her swing and believe she still had power," said Schuermna on Kessler. "She made adjustments and had great at-bats."
Padro would have one of her best hitting games in her collegiate career as she went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
"I felt really good at the plate," said Padro. "I was seeing the ball really well and I just wanted to do my part for the team."
Padro also reflected on playing against Miami Dade as she transferred from them this season.
"I respect Miami Dade," said Padro on facing her former team. "Nevertheless, SCF is my home now and we played well as a team today. It made those awkward situations easier with my team behind me.
Flores would round out the offense as she finished 1-for-2 with two RBI, one walk and two runs.
Bennett (1-for-1, two runs, one RBI, two walks and one stolen base), Denton (1-for-1, one RBI and one walk) and Rutherford (1-for-1, one run, one RBI, two walks) had the remaining three hits, while Rosenbaum (one run, one RBI and two walks) and Margetis (one run scored) also contributed in the game.
For the Sharks, sophomore Atavya Fowler and freshman Ty Ceravantes had the lone two hits.
Notes:
The wins for #267 and #268 for Schuerman and will need 32 to become the second head coach in program history to reach 300 career wins.
Other Citrus Conference Scores:
#14 Eastern Florida State (17-5, 2-4 Citrus) split with Daytona State (9-11, 2-6 Citrus) losing game one 4-3 before winning game two 4-2.
#13 Seminole State College (14-6, 4-4 Citrus) swept Polk State (6-10, 0-6 Citrus) 13-6 and 13-5 (5).
Citrus Conference Standings:
1. #3 Florida Southwestern (19-1, 6-0)
2. #4 Indian River State (18-1, 6-0)
3. #8 Central Florida (13-5, 4-0)
4. Santa Fe (12-7, 3-1)
5. Miami Dade (7-10, 5-4)
6. #13 Seminole State College (14-6, 4-4)
7. SCF (10-6, 4-4)
8. #14 Eastern Florida State (17-5, 2-4)
9. St. Pete (9-13, 2-4)
10. Daytona State (9-11, 2-6)
11. Hillsborough (6-12, 1-6)
12. Polk State (6-10, 0-6)
Up Next:
The Manatees will head on the road for their next two conference doubleheaders as they travel to Fort Pierce to take on #4 Indian River State (18-1, 6-0 Citrus) at the IRSC Softball Complex Saturday afternoon, March 9 at 1 and 3 pm before traveling to Fort Myers to take on #3 Florida Southwestern (19-1, 6-0 Citrus) Tuesday afternoon, March 12 at 2 and 4 pm at Buccaneers Park.
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