Softball Earns First Win of the Season

After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would draw on the board first in the bottom of the second. After a double by freshman Kierstyn Aumua and a single by classmate Brooke-Lynn Hilderbrand, freshman Bri Thies would bring in Aumua with a sacrifice fly. One batter later, freshman Josie Alderson would bring home Hilderbrand with a single to left for a 2-0 lead. 

The Panthers would then score their first run at the top of the fourth off of an RBI single by Kylah Davis. In the following inning, they would take a 5-2 lead after an RBI double by Nicole Rivera and RBI singles by Davis, Gray and Grayson Wojcicchon before Ava Matrascia made it 6-2 after an RBI single of her own at the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees would not lent and put together their biggest rally beginning with a one-out double by sophomore Kamryn Martinez before freshman Joni Taylor sent a double of her own to center to bring in Martinez before classmate Jasmin Huber came in to pinch run. Classmate Kaitlyn Shea then reached base on a Panther error with Huber scoring. After A'Lana Martinez and sophomore Abigayle Smith drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, Aumua would give the Manatees a boost as the Hawaiian would send a single to center to bring in Shea and Alana Martinez to tie the game at 6-6. Hilderbrand would then hit an infield single to bring in Smith before Thies drove in the final runs with a single to left to bring in Aumua and Hilderbrand for a 9-6 SCF lead before sealing the victory.

"The turning point for the team was the patient at-bats we had in the sixth when we put up seven runs in that inning," said Sauerwein. 

A'Lana Martinez would earn the win after throwing a complete game with two strikeouts. She would improve to 1-1 on the year.

"A'Lana did a great job in the circle and keeping us in the game," said Sauerwin on Martinez. "While she comes from a baseball background and didn't pitch in softball for a long time, she was a major factor in this win.

Gray would earn a no-decision after giving up two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Alexandra Messina would fall to 2-4 after giving up seven runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in one inning of relief.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was Thies that lead the way offensively as she went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Aumua would follow going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and one walk, while Hilderbrand rounded out the order going 2-for-4 with two runs, one RBI and one stolen base.

Shea (1-for-4, one run), Smith (1-for-2, one run and two walks), Kamryn Martinez (1-for-3, one run), Alderson (1-for-3, one RBI) and Taylor (1-for-1, one RBI) had the remaining five hits.

For the Panthers, Davis would lead the way offensively as she went 2-for-2 with two RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

Notes:

• This was the first win under Sauerwein's leadership

Other Sun Lakes Conference Scores:

#3 St John's River State 5, Lake Sumter State 3

Pasco Hernando State 8, Florida Gateway 0 (5)

Sun Lakes Conference Standings:

1. #3 St. John's River State (20-8, 4-0)

2. Pasco Hernando State (13-10, 1-0)

3. Florida Gateway College (15-15, 3-1)

4. Lake Sumter State (8-8, 3-1)

5. SCF (1-3, 1-3) 

6. Florida State College at Jacksonville (7-15, 0-3)

7. South Florida State (3-17, 0-4)

Up Next:

The Manatees will look to go for the sweep against South Florida State with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 1 at 1 and 3 pm at Panther Field in Avon Park.