Sanford, Fla - The SCF softball team (18-20, 11-17 Citrus) were able to hold their own with a split against RV Seminole State (22-18, 12-16 Citrus) losing game one and winning game two both by a score of 4-3.
Game One:
Head coach Mandy Schuerman sent freshman Ryleigh Bennett (4-5, 4.20 ERA) to start game one, while Seminole State head coach Courtney Miller went with freshman Samantha Titzel (7-6, 5.82 ERA) to counter.
The first three innings were a pitcher's duel between Bennett and Titzel with Bennett gaining the upper hand in strikeouts. At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would get on the board first as redshirt sophomore Jordan O'Brien would send a double to left-center to bring in freshman Hailey Margetis for 1-0 lead. The Lady Raiders would respond back in the bottom of the fourth and take a 2-1 lead on a fielding error and an RBI by sophomore Alyssa Julien. The lead for the Lady Raiders would increase to 3-1 one inning later after an RBI double by sophomore Avery Brewer.
The Manatees would put another run on the board at the top of the sixth as Margetis would bring in sophomore Janessa Benavides with a single to center. The Lady Raiders would respond in the bottom half of the inning after an RBI double freshman Anna Green.
At the top of the seventh, the Manatees would try one last time to try and tie the game after sophomore Karsyn Rutherford hit an RBI double to bring in freshman Saremi Flores and cut the lead to 4-3, but it was all they could produce as the Lady Raiders took game one.
Bennett would fall to 4-6 after giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of work. She was also 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
Titzel would improve to 8-6 after giving up three runs on 10 hits with one walk in six innings. Freshman Grace Thomas would earn her third save after throwing one scoreless inning of relief with one walk.
Aside from Bennett, Margetis and O'Brien were each 2-for-3 with an RBI with Margetis adding one run and one stolen base.
Benavides (1-for-4, one run), Flores (1-for-3), Rutherford (1-for-3, one RBI) and freshman Lydia Denton (1-for-3) had the remaining four hits, while sophomore Haley Rosenbaum (one walk) also contributed.
Sophomore Lindsay Corazzini lead the way in hitting as she went 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base.
Game Two:
Looking to go for the split, Schuerman went with freshman Julianna Stachowicz (10-7, 1.65 ERA) to start game two while Miller went with redshirt sophomore Cassidy Ross (8-9, 4.29 ERA).
The Lady Raiders would score one run in the first two innings. The first inning saw them score on a Manatee fielding error. This would be followed by a leadoff solo home run in the second by Green for her third of the season.
At the top of the third, the Manatees would get on the board as O'Brien would send a double to left to bring in Benavides. The Lady Raiders would respond in the bottom half of the inning after a sacrifice fly by sophomore Mel Bullock made it 3-1 Seminole State.
At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would cut the lead to 3-2 as Rosenbaum would bring in sophomore Jaylin Padro with a double.
After the fifth inning went scoreless, the Manatees would showcase their power as sophomore Alissa Kessler would send a leadoff solo home run to center for her ninth of the season and tie the game at 3-3. One batter later, Denton would show power of her own as she sent a solo home run to left for her first collegiate home run and give the Manatees a 4-3 lead before they sealed the victory.
Stachowicz would improve to 11-7 after throwing a complete game, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. She was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Ross would fall to 8-10 after giving up four runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six and a third innings while going 1-for-4 at the plate with a run. Thomas would throw two-thirds of a scoreless inning of relief with one walk.
Apart from Stachowicz, Padro would lead the way in hitting as she went 2-for-3 with a run and a walk.
Rosenbaum (1-for-4, one RBI), Benavides (1-for-3, one run, one walk and two stolen bases), Kessler (1-for-3, one home run and one walk), O'Brien (1-for-4, one RBI), Denton (1-for-3, one home run) and Rutherford (1-for-3) each had one hit.
Green lead the offense for the Lady Raiders as she went 1-for-3 with the home run.
Up Next:
The Manatees return home to the SCF Softball Complex as they welcome #3 Florida Southwestern (39-5, 26-4 Citrus) for a doubleheader Tuesday, April 9 at 4 and 6 pm.