Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team (17-19, 10-16 Citrus) got back on the winning side of things for conference as they swept Daytona State (19-21, 10-16 Citrus) 9-7 and 7-6 (8). With the sweep, the Manatees took the overall series over the Falcons 3-1.

"We were able to capitalize on their mistakes and that helped us gain momentum in game one and they did a great job, team-wise, fighting back," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We did a good enough job to get the wins."

"I think that we did really well," said freshman Lydia Denton. "I thought stringing those hits was really important. The defense was better and I think we can build on that, but overall we found a way to fight through it and come out with the win."

"I thought overall we did well as a team," said freshman Hailey Margetis. "We did our job and Juli (Stachowicz) did a good job pitching in the second game and Ryleigh (Bennett) slayed in the first game."

"I think we did a good job getting base runners on when we needed to," said freshman Ryleigh Bennett. "We executed well in some situations and came out with a lot of energy while having fun."

Game One: 

Schuerman sent Bennett (3-5, 4.06 ERA) to start game one, while head coach Ben Greer went with sophomore Allizaya Talamantes (10-8, 2.60 ERA) to counter.

The Falcons would open on the board first at the top of the first as they would score off of a fielder's choice by sophomore Sky Ramos. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning beginning with Bennett (reach on an error), sophomore Alissa Kessler (reaching on an error) and freshman Hailey Margetis (walk) loading the bases with two out before freshman Lydia Denton popped a single to second to bring in Bennett. From there, sophomore Maddisan Noriega would then line a double down past the third base line to bring in Kessler and Margetis and give the Manatees the lead before sophomore Taylor Halback sent a single to left to bring in Denton and Noriega to make it 5-1 SCF.

In the bottom of the second, the Manatees would increase the lead further beginning with Rosenbaum getting hit by a pitch and sophomore Janessa Benavides drawing a walk before both runners advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch, Bennett would send an infield single to short to bring in Rosenbaum After Kessler hit into a sacrifice fly to bring in Benavides, Denton would send a single to center and bring in Bennett to make it 8-1 SCF.

Bennett would then hold the Falcons scoreless in the third and fourth inning, but upon the fifth inning, the Falcons would get four runs on the board after two RBI singles and scoring on a Manatee fiedling error. One inning later, the Falcons would add another run on the board after an RBI single by freshman Olivia McCronan made it 8-6 SCF. The Manatees were able to turn a double play off of a unsuccessful sacrifice fly thanks to Bennett and Halback.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees would add one final run on the board as Bennett would send a sacrifice fly to bring in sophomore Karsyn Rutherford to make it 9-6 SCF. The Falcons would add one more run at the top of the seventh off of a Manatee fielding error, but it would be all they could produce as the Manatees were able to take the first game.

Bennett would improve to 4-5 after giving up four runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs. Freshman Julianna Stachowicz would earn the save after giving up one unearned run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts in two innings of relief.

Talamantes would fall to 10-9 after giving up five unearned runs on four hits with one walk in two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore Madison Mitzel gave up two runs with one walk in one-third of an inning of relief, while freshman Bianca Guerra gave up two runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in five innings of relief.

Denton and Rosenbaum each had two hits. Denton (2-for-3) lead the way with two RBI and one run, while Rosenbaum (2-for-3) added one run and one stolen base.

Noriega (1-for-3, two RBI and one run) and Halback (1-for-3, two RBI) and the remaining two hits, while Benavides (one run and one walk), Kessler (one RBI and one run), Margetis (one run and one walk), Rutherford (one run and one walk) and sophomore Brielle Bostow (one-third of a inning of relief) also contributed in game one.

For the Falcons, sophomore Christina Penney lead the way in hitting as she went 3-for-3 with two run and an RBI, while classmate Kadrianna Grinstead lead the way in offense as she went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.

Game Two:

Looking to go for the sweep, Schuerman sent Stachowicz (9-7, 1.42 ERA) to start game two, while assistant coach Mackenzie Enev went with sophomore Emma Ream (5-6, 3.93 ERA).

The Falcons would open on the board first at the top of the first as sophomore Brianna Weimer sent a one-out solo home run to left for her seventh home run of the season. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom of the second beginning with Denton reaching second on a fielding error. After freshman Saremi Flores drew a two-out walk, Rutherford would slap a single to left to bring in Denton before Rosenbaum sent a single to center to bring in Flores and give the Manatees a 2-1 lead.

At the top of the third, the Falcons would tie the game at 2-2 after freshman Logan Ringel scored on a fielding error. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning starting with leadoff double by Bennett before redshirt sophomore Jordan O'Brien came in to pinch run. After freshman Olivia Rogers drew a walk, Stachowicz would showoff her bat and send a double to right-center to bring in O'Brien and Rogers to give the Manatees a 4-2 lead.

After the fourth inning went scoreless, the Falcons would cut the Manatees' lead to 4-3 after an RBI single by sophomore Kiera Mainolfi, but the Manatees would respond with a run of their own as Flores would reach base on a fielding error while Kessler scored to make it 5-3 SCF. One inning later, Bennett would make it 6-3 as she sent a single to left to bring in Rosenbaum.

At the top of the seventh, the Falcons would not go away as freshman Morgan Davis would hit a three-run home run to center for her second home run of the season to tie the game at 6-6. The Manatees would be unable to win the game in the bottom half of the inning as the game would go to extra innings.

After the Falcons failed to produce at the top of the eighth, the Manatees would take a chance to go for the win. After Bennett and Kessler hit back-to-back singles, before moving to scoring position, Stachowicz would draw a walk and load the bases for Margetis, who came in to pinch hit for Flores. On the first pitch, the Wesley Chapel native would send a single to center passed the shortstop and bring in Bennett for the walkoff win and sweep.

"When I got told I was pinch hitting, I knew I had a job to do," said Margetis on the game-winning hit. "There was a good amount of pressure, but I knew that there was a job that needed to be done. If it wasn't me, then it was someone else to make the win. Once I saw the pitch come in I knew that was it and I took the chance."

"That's a hero moment when you have a pinch hitter help walk off the game for us," said Schuerman on Margetis. "It was good to see Hailey come out for a hero moment like that."

Stachowicz would improve to 10-7 after throwing an eight-inning complete game, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. She was also 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk at the plate.

Ream would earn a no-decision after giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings. Talamantes would fall to 10-10 after giving up one run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in one inning of relief.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game in game two. Bennett would lead the way as she went 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. She would finish 4-for-8 with three RBI and three runs.

"At the plate, I was looking to see good pitches and if it was there, then I swing at it," said Bennett. "On the mound, I was just more focused on doing my job, while helping my team do theirs, so I don't put too much pressure on certain situations"

Rosenbaum (2-for-4), Kessler (2-for-5) and Rutherford (2-for-4) rounded out the order with two hits each. Rosenbaum added one run and one RBI, while Kessler added one run and Rutherford added one RBI.

Flores (1-for-3, one run and one walk), Denton (1-for-5, one run) and Margetis (1-for-1, one RBI) had the remaining three hits, while Noriega (one walk) and Rogers (one run and one walk) also contributed in the game. Denton would finish 3-for-8 with two RBI in both games.

"I felt confident," said Denton. "I was trying to get on base any chance I get. My teammates came back

For the Falcons, Weimer lead the way in hitting as she went 2-for-3 with a home run, while Davis lead the way in offense as she went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.

Up Next:

The Manatees will travel to Sanford for their next doubleheader as they face RV Seminole State College of Florida (21-17, 11-15 Citrus) Saturday afternoon, April 6 at 12 and 2 pm.