By Pat Clines
Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team (16-18, 1-5 Suncoast) were able to pull off their first win in Suncoast Conference play as they split with St. Pete College (22-13, 3-1 Suncoast) losing game one 9-0 in five innings before winning game two 9-7.
"We have to do a better of bringing in a consistent approach both offensively and defensively," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "I think once we do that, good things happen as it showed in the second game."
"I think that we played as a team," said sophomore Chantel Schurr. "In the first game, we came out energized, but we didn't string enough hits together, but in the second game, that backed everything up and it helped a lot because we played so much together in that game and it was really to get our first conference win from here on out, we're going to make it through."
"I think we came out hot as a team," said sophomore Molly Starinsky. "I feel like everyone in the dugout, individually, was up and cheering each other on and I think that it contributed a lot to our win, but it was also stringing our hits together. I think we figured that out in the second game and that's definitely going to help us keep winning our games in the future."
Game One:
Schuerman sent freshman Brielle Bostow to start game one, while SPC head coach Bre Myers went with freshman Kaylee Childers.
It was all SPC as they were able to take advantage of several errors made by the Manatees before claiming the first game.
Bostow would fall to 5-10 after giving up two runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout in one and a third. Freshman Karsyn Rutherford gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk in two innings of relief, while sophomore Sam Carlin gave up three unearned runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings of relief.
Childers would improve to 7-1 after throwing a five inning five-hit shutout with one walk.
Schurr (1-for-1), sophomores Tori Copeland (1-for-3), Presley O'Kimosh (1-for-2) and Gabi Nicholson (1-for-2) and freshman Stephanie Oaks (1-for-3, two stolen bases) each had one of the Manatees five hits.
Four Titans (sophomores Sierrah Snook, Karleigh Curtis, Abby Dickson and Kelsey Kadlub) each had two hits with Curtis and Dickson each securing two RBI.
Game Two:
Hoping to bounce back from the shutout loss, Schuerman went with Bostow again, while Myers went with sophomore Justice McCraine.
The Titans would open on the scoreboard first at the top of the first after a two-run double by Kadlub. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning. After drew a walk and Oaks reached on a error, O'Kimosh would send a hard single to center and bring in Copeland for the first run. After Oaks and O'Kimosh committed a double steal, Oaks would tie the game at 2-2 off of a Titan throwing error.
At the top of the second, the Titans would retake the lead after a fielding error before Kadlub popped a single to left to make it 4-2 SPC. The Manatees would once again respond as Copeland would send a hard single to left to bring in Rutherford to cut the deficit to 4-3 still in favor of SPC.
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees would go for their first lead of the game. After O'Kimosh hit a leadoff single, freshman Haley Rosenbaum would come in to pinch run for her, but it was short lived as Schurr would ground into a fielder's choice before stealing second. After Nicholson reached on a fielding error, freshman Taylor Halback would open the opportunity to tie the game at 4-4 as she sent a double to left-center to bring in Schurr. After Rutherford drew a walk to load the bases, all eyes turned towards Starinsky to play a big part. On a 2-1 count, the native of Hillard, Ohio would line a single to center and give the Manatees their first lead of the game as she brought in Nicholson and Halback.
"I was just happy and excited that I got on and my teammates get in," said Starinsky. "It's not anything that I did super spectacular, it's good girls on our team. Our girls are taking advantage of those hits down the middle and I loved it because it was exciting to see. It made me want to keep going for my team and myself and I kept building the energy after the ball."
"I think there's a time for everybody, which is why this is a team sport, but this one was with help from Molly," said Schuerman on Starinsky. "Honestly, when someone new steps up on the team, it shows a good result and we are very excited and happy for her performance, even if it's expected from time to time because they do so well in practice and show it in the games."
Oaks would then hit an infield single on a 3-1 count and bring in Rutherford for a 7-4 SCF lead before the inning ended.
At the top of the sixth, the Titans would cut the Manatees lead to 7-6 after RBI singles by Dickson and Kadlub, but this made the Manatees answer back in the bottom half beginning with Oaks reaching on a fielding error before stealing second and advancing to third on a tag up. O'Kimosh would then pull a suicide squeeze bunt and bring in Oaks. This would give Schurr an opportunity for an insurance run as she sent a solo homer to center for her third of the season and a 9-6 SCF lead.
"Honestly, my first couple of at-bats definitely could have been better," said Schurr on the home run. "I think backing up my team, even when I came up to bat, I was just thinking 'base hit, base hit, base hit', which was a given, but in my last at-bat I told myself to get myself together because I know I'm a great athlete and so is my team and to come out and win while stringing hits along together. While the home run was not on purpose, it was great to have and I'm glad I was able to do a job for my team and get an extra run on the board.
Schurr's parents, Mark and Alicia, were in attendance and Schurr describes it as a heart felt moment.
"The fact that I was able to hit a home run with my mom and dad in attendance was the icing on the cake for me," said Schurr.
The Titans would try one more attempt to at least tie the game as Snook hit an RBI single, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees sealed the second game.
Bostow would earn a no-decision after giving up three runs on five hits with one walk in one inning. Carlin would improve to 5-0 after giving up four runs (one earned) on eight hits with one strikeout in six innings of relief.
McCraine would fall to 6-4 after giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. Childers would give up two unearned runs on four hits in three and a third innings of relief, while freshman Sydney Sackett gave up one run with one walk in no innings of relief.
Halback lead the way in hitting as she went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and one run. O'Kimosh followed as she finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Starinsky tied with O'Kimosh in RBI as she finished 1-for-2 with two RBI, a walk and a stolen base, while Schurr went 1-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a stolen base.
On the base paths, Oaks lead the way after finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI, two runs and three stolen bases. She finished 2-for-6 with five stolen bases.
Copeland (1-for-3, one RBI and one run) and Nicholson (1-for-4, one run) had the remaining two hits, while Rutherford (two runs, one walk and one stolen base) also contributed in the game.
For the Titans, Snook and Kadlub each had three hits each with Kadlub the offensive game with four RBI.
Other Suncoast Scores:
Hillsborough (17-16, 6-0 Suncoast) swept Polk State (13-18, 0-4 Suncoast) by scores of 2-1 and 8-0 in six innings.
Up Next:
The Manatees will head on the road to Fort Pierce as they will face host #15 Indian River State (35-7, 5-0 Southern) and #1 Florida Southwestern (35-3, 6-0 Southern) Saturday afternoon at 3:15 and 5:15 pm.