Softball Wins 2 In-a-Row to Cap Successful Weekend

By: Pat Clines

Clearwater, Fla - The SCF softball team (2-2) wrapped up the second day at the Adidas JUCO Kickoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater as they defeated Georgia Highlands (0-4) 14-1 (5) and St. John's River State (0-2) 9-0. With the wins, the Manatees are now 2-0 against the Chargers and 11-8 against the Vikings.

"We had a lot of highs and lows look forward to more consistency ," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We looked forward to more consistency in our play. Brie and Karsyn attacked the lower half of the zone much more effectively which helps with their success. Offensively, when we attack the pitch we are hunting, we are so much more successful."

"The team's energy today was through the roof," said freshman Brielle Bostow. "We really stepped it up all the way around compared to yesterday and I couldn't be prouder."

Game One:

For game one, Schuerman sent Bostow to the mound, while Georgia Highlands head coach Jordan Thorton went with freshman Jaycie Hand to counter.

The Chargers would be the first to score after an RBI groundout by sophomore Allison Deweese, but the Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning. After a leadoff single by freshman Stephanie Oaks before she stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Liv Siebert, sophomore Chantel Schurr would send a triple to right to bring in Oaks to tie the game at 1-1. This would bring in a big opportunity for freshman Alissa Kessler as the transfer from Florida Atlantic would send a two-run blast to center for her first collegiate home run of the season. After a single by sophomore Tori Copeland, with a stolen base, and a single by redshirt freshman Jordan O'Brien that put her at third, freshman Taylor Halback would send a double to right to bring in O'Brien to make it 4-1 SCF.

After a scoreless second, the Manatees would add their next run on the board off of an RBI single by Halback that brought in freshman Haley Rosenbaum to make it 5-1 SCF.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would pull off a big offensive inning. After Siebert hit a leadoff single and stole second, Kessler would continue with her offense as she sent a single to left to bring in Siebert. After Copeland hit a single, Rosenbaum would reach second on an error while Kessler scored. Halback would then bring in Copeland and Rosenbaum with a two-RBI single. This would signal the end for Hand as Thorton would send sophomore Katie Traynor to the mound.

After sophomore Presley O'Kimosh drew a walk, freshman Madison Noriega would send a double to right to bring in Halback before Oaks drew a walk to load the bases. Schuerman would then sophomore Renee Dixon to pinch hit for Schurr. On a 1-1 count, the St. Cloud native would send a double to bring O'Kimosh and Noriega before she and Oaks scored on two passed balls before sealing the first game.

Bostow would get the win after throwing a five inning complete game, giving up one run on five hits with one walk. She is now 1-0 on the season.

"I felt like I threw real well," said Bostow on her game. "I focused on keeping the ball low in the zone and really attacking hitters. That being said, I couldn't be as confident as I was without my defense behind me."

Hand would fall to 0-2 after giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts in three and a third. Traynor would give up four runs (three earned) on two hits with three walks in no innings, while freshman Raina Frega threw two-thirds of a scoreless inning.

Three Manatees had a multi-hit game. Halback would be the leader for game one as she went 3-for-3 with four RBI, one run and one stolen base, while Kessler went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs and Copeland went 2-for-3 with one run and one stolen base..

Schurr and Noriega both went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run each. Schurr also added a walk.

Dixon (1-for-1, two RBI and a run), O'Brien (1-for-1, one run), Siebert (1-for-3, one run and a stolen base), Oaks (1-for-3, two runs, one walk and one stolen base), O'Kimosh (one run scored and one walk), Oaks (1-for-3, two runs scored, one walk and one stolen base) and Rosenbaum (1-for-2, two runs) also contributed in the game.

Sophomore Malone Aldridge was the lone Charger with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-2 with a run and two stolen bases.

SCF vs St. John's River State:

For game two, Schuerman would have freshman Karsyn Rutherford start game two, while St. John's River State head coach Joe Pound would go with sophomore Marlee Dellinger to counter.

The Manatees would score the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Oaks, who would draw a walk and move to third on a Siebert sacrifice bunt, scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the second, the Manatees would then extend their lead further beginning with back-to-back walks drawn by Oaks and Noriega and a double steal by both before Siebert was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Schurr. On an 0-1 count, Schurr would reach base on a fielding error while Noriega and Oaks scored to push the lead before Kessler sent a double to left to bring in Siebert and Schurr to make it 5-0 SCF.

After the third inning went scoreless, the Manatees would add their final runs in the bottom of the fourth, starting with a leadoff walk by Schurr. After a single by Kessler that put Schurr on third, Copeland would bunt into a fielder's choice to bring in Schurr. Kessler and Copeland would then advance to scoring position on a passed ball before Halback sent a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Kessler.

Sophomore Molly Starinsky would then send an infield single to the shortstop and bring in Copeland. After O'Brien reached base on a fielding error, Noriega would then hit an RBI groundout to bring in Starinsky for the final run of the game and entact the eight-run mercy rule before Rutherford sealed the deal in the end.

Rutherford would move to 1-1 after throwing a five-inning five hit shutout with one walk and four strikeouts.

Dellinger would fall to 0-1 after giving up three runs on one hit with five walks and one strikeout in one and a third of an inning. Freshman Bailey Henderson would give up six runs (two earned) on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

Kessler would be the only Manatee with a multi-hit in the second game as she finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

On the basepaths, Noriega was the leader after going 1-for-2 at the plate. The Texan had one RBI, one run scored, one walk and three stolen bases. Copeland lead the way in RBI as she went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run

Starinsky (1-for-1, one run and one RBI) had the remaining while Schurr (two runs and one walk), Oaks (two runs, one stolen base and two walks) and Siebert (one run scored) also contributed in the game.

Notes:

The two wins for Schuerman was her 240th and 241st wins in her career. Her 241st career win surpassed Meredith Headings (240, 2007-14) for second all-time. Her next milestone is 250 career wins. Coincidentally, her two wins happened on her birthday.

"Every win is a good win," said Schuerman on moving up in the ranks. "I'm glad we were able to turn it around after being humbled on day one. Coach Mere (Headings) had a lot of success when she was at SCF and our goal is to take past successes from coaches like Jeff Roberts and Meredith Headings and continue to try and surpass it."

"Coach Mandy is one of the best coaches I've had," said Bostow on Schuerman's milestone achievement. "I'm so glad that we could pull out these win for her on her birthday and hope to continue this momentum."

Other Suncoast Conference Scores:

St. Pete College (3-1) swept the second day of the JUCO Kickoff Classic by defeating Eastern Florida State (3-1) 9-3 and USC Union (0-4) 8-0. The Titans will continue in the JUCO Kickoff Classic against Indian River State (1-3) and St. John's River State Sunday morning, January 29 at 8:30 and 11:30 am. 

Hillsborough (1-2) ended their part of the JUCO Kickoff Classic defeating Gulf Coast State (3-1) 6-1 before falling to Tallahassee CC (3-1) 7-1 and Daytona State (1-1) 12-4 in six innings. The Hawks will travel to Avon Park to take on South Florida State (2-0) Thursday night, February 2 at 5 and 7 pm.

Up Next:

The Manatees will remain on the road for their next series as they will head to Gainesville to take on Santa Fe College (2-2) Friday afternoon, February 3 at 1 and 3 pm.