"I think that we saw a lot of things that we worked on in practice that were both successful and didn't exactly go as planned," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "Overall, I thought there was a lot of positive and negative we can take from both games today. The positive was this team fought and the second game was a big example when we gave up eight runs in the first two innings and teams would usually be able to make a comeback like they did and that was really refreshing to see and fight it out."

 

"I thought our first game was really strong and we were really fighting that one," said sophomore Stephanie Oaks. "In the second game we struggled, but we pulled it together as a team and everyone wanted to win and that's what we did."

 

"We're hitting really well in practice and getting good transition hits which was really important," freshman Olivia Rogers. Overall, I'm really proud of everybody."

 

"While we did make some errors, we were able to come back with our bats," said freshman Julianna Stachowicz. "We wanted to show that we weren't going to shutdown."

 

Game One;

Scheurman sent freshman Ryleigh Bennett to start the first game, while Heartland head coach Casey Jefferson went with sophomore Morgan Malone to counter.

 

The Hawks would draw the first run of the game at the top of the first as freshman Shayne Immke would reach first on a fielding error while classmate Jayden Walters scored. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning as Margetis would send a two-run homer to left for her first collegiate home run of the season and made it 2-1 SCF.

 

In the bottom of the second, the Manatees would extend the lead to 3-1 after sophomore Haley Rosenbaum who reached third on a fielding error, scored on a passed ball.

 

At the top of the third, the Hawks would tie the game at 3-3 after back-to-back RBI singles by Immke  and sophomore Raeghan Morefield. This would signal the end for Bennett as Schuerman would send sophomore Karsyn Rutherford to the mound. After the pitching change, the Hawks would take the lead as Morefield would score on a double steal to make it 4-3 Heartland.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees did not want their home opener spoiled and set to rally to regain the lead. After Bennett and sophomore Taylor Halback drew back-to-back walks, freshman Lilah Denton would come in to pinch run for Bennett. With Rosenbaum at the plate on a 1-1 count, the Mayo native would drop down a bunt and reach on a single, but then would then take advantage of three fielding errors by the Hawks as Denton, Halback and Rosenbaum all scored to make it 6-4 SCF. After sophomore Maddisan Noriega lined a single to right-center and stole second, Oaks would hit an infield single to second to bring in Noriega to make it 7-4.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees decided it was time to end the game. After Denton (single), Bennett (double) and Halback (walk) loaded the bases, Li. Denton would score on a wild pitch before Rosenbaum sent a double to center to bring in Bennett and Halback. After Rosenbaum stole third, Noriega would bring her in with a sacrifice fly. After Oaks hit a bunt single and stole second and third and Rutherford drew a walk, both runners would commit a double steal with Oaks stealing to seal the mercy rule win.

 

Bennett would earn a no-decision after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in two and a third innings. She was also 1-for-2 at the plate with a run and a walk.

 

Rutherford would improve to 2-1 after throwing two and two-thirds innings of relief, giving up one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. She also contributed with a run, two walks and three stolen bases.

 

Malone would fall to 0-1 after giving up nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts in four innings. Freshman Kaitlyn Robinson would give up three runs on two hits with two walks in a third of a inning of relief.

 

Oaks, Rosenbaum and sophomore Alissa Kessler would all have a multi-hit game as they each had two hits apiece. Oaks (2-for-4) lead the way on the basepaths as she added one RBI, one run and four stolen bases.

 

"I felt really good," said Oaks.  "I'm really confident on my speed, I capitalized on that."

 

while Rosenbaum lead the way offensively with two RBI, three runs and a stolen base. Margetis also lead the way offensively as she finished 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and one walk.

 

Li. Denton (1-for-1, one run) and Noriega (1-for-2, one run, one RBI and one stolen base) had the remaining two hits, while Halback (two runs and two walks) also contributed.

 

Freshman Shayne Immke lead the way in hitting for the Hawks as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

 

Game Two:

For game two, Schuerman went with sophomore Brielle Bostow while Jefferson sent freshman Kendyl Hurt.

 

The Hawks would score first at the top of the first as Immke would hit an RBI single to right before being called out at third. In the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would respond as Rogers would showcase her power and send a solo home run to center for her first collegiate home run in her career.

 

"I was thinking 'just hit the ball'," said Rogers on her first collegiate home run. "Nervous as a freshman to come in to start the second game, but I was confident that the team had my back and I just let it rip."

 

At the top of the second, the Hawks would start to rattle Bostow as they went on a seven run onslaught, which was highlighted by a three-run homer by Immke for her first of the season. This would have Stachowicz make her appearance and get out of the inning.

 

Heading into the bottom of the third, the Manatees would slow but surely start to mount a comeback beginning with a one-out single and a stolen base by Oaks before Margetis lined a double to left to bring her in. After Rogers hit a double of her own, Stachowicz would show her hitting skills and send a single to left to bring in Margetis before sophomore Janessa Benavides hit a single to right to bring in Rogers and cut the lead to 8-4.

 

After the fourth inning went scoreless, the Manatees continued their rally in the bottom of the fifth beginning with Roger reaching first on a fielding error before Stachowicz sent her home with a triple to right center. Two batters later, after freshman Lydia Denton reached first on a fielder's choice and stole second, sophomore Jaylin Padro would send a single to left and bring in Lyd. Denton. After Padro stole second, Halback would bring her in with a double to left-center and cut the lead to 8-7.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees would push to regain the lead with a rally. After Margetis reached first on a fielding error before Rosenbaum came in to pinch run and steal second and third, Stachowicz would sent a double to right and bring in Rosenbaum and tie the game at eight apiece. Benavides would then give the Manatees their first lead of the game as she sent a single to short to bring in Stachowicz before Lyd. Denton sent a single to right to bring in Benavides for a 10-8 lead.

 

At the top of the seventh, the Hawks would attempt one last time to at least tie the game as freshman Madison Smith would send a single to right and was able to bring in classmate Erin Anderson, but with a last gasp effort, Padro was able to get sophomore Landes Benedict out at the plate to save the game and give the Manatees the sweep.

 

Bostow and Hurt would both earn a no-decision. Bostow would give up six runs on five hits with one walk in one and a third innings, while Hurt gave up seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits with one walk and one strikeout in five innings.

 

Stachowicz would improve to 2-0 after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits with three walks and a season-high nine strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings of relief. She also lead the way offensively at the plate as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run.

 

"I felt good," said Stachowicz on her game. "I had a little bit of the nervous jitters, but after that I knew my team had my back to help me out and it really settled me down."

 

"Juli came in and did a wonderful job," said Schuerman on Stachowicz. "I'm really proud of her performance overall. She's a gamer and will give you all she's got and I'm really proud of the way she came in and really did a good job."

 

Sophomore Amber Teimeyer would be credited with the loss after giving up three unearned runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning of relief.

 

Aside from Stachowicz, Rogers and Benavides each had two hits apiece. Rogers (2-for-4) added one RBI and three runs, while Benavides (2-for-4) added two RBI, one run and one stolen base.

 

Oaks (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base), Margetis (1-for-4, one RBI and one run), Lyd. Denton (1-for-4, one RBI, one run and one stolen base), Padro (1-for-2, one RBI, one run, one walk and one stolen base), Halback (1-for-2, one RBI) and Noriega (1-for-3) six hits.

 

For the Hawks, Immke lead the way offensively as she went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.

 

Notes:

This was wins #262 and 263 for Schuerman.

 

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

Santa Fe (5-3) would split with Tallahassee CC (4-6) winning game one 8-4 before losing game two 9-3. The Lady Saints will take on St. John's River State (5-5) Thursday afternoon, February 15 at 1 and 3 pm.

 

Up Next:

The Manatees remain at home as they welcome Tallahassee CC Saturday afternoon, February 17 at 2 and 4 pm.