
March 22, 2025
Softball Takes Series Over FSCJ with Split
Jacksonville, Fla. - The SCF softball team (4-8, 4-8 Sun Lakes) were able to take their series over Florida State College at Jacksonville (14-21, 5-7 Sun Lakes) on the road with a split winning game one 6-0 before losing game two 8-7.
Game One:
Head coach Brett Sauerwein sent freshman A'Lana Martinez to the mound to start game one, while FSCJ head coach Sabrina Hartsell sent freshman Alexis Laura to counter.
The first three innings were a pitcher's duel between A. Martinez and Laura. At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would be the ones to get on the board first beginning with a leadoff walk by freshman Joni Taylor. After a double by classmate Bri Thies, Taylor would take the opportunity and score by stealing home. After sophomore Abigayle Smith drew a walk before freshman Brooke-Lynn Hilderbrand moved Thies and Smith into scoring position, sophomore Kamryn Martinez would single to center to bring in Thies before Smith scored after stealing home. After A. Martinez and freshman Josie Alderson drew back-to-back walks before moving to scoring position on a passed ball, Alderson would then score on a second passed ball before freshman Kaitlyn Shea hit an infield single to third to bring in A. Martinez for a 5-0 SCF lead.
The Manatees would add one final run at the top of the sixth as Alderson would score from a Manta Ray error before sealing the win.
A. Martinez would improve to 3-3 after throwing a shutout with eight hits and four walks. She was also 1-for-3 with a run at the plate.
Laura would fall to 4-7 after giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits with five walks and one strikeout in six and two-thirds innings. Freshman Brittani Murray would give up two runs (one earned) with two walks in one-third of an inning of relief.
Theis would lead the way in hitting as she went 2-for-3 with a run and a walk. Shea (1-for-3, one RBI and one stolen base), K. Martinez (1-for-4, one RBI) and Alderson (1-for-1, two runs and two walks) had the remaining three hits
Game Two:
For game two, Sauerwein sent Hilderbrand to the mound, while Hartsell went with freshman Kailey Walker.
After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees got on the board first at the second as Alderson drove a single to bring in Hilderbrand. The Manatees would increase their lead at the top of the third beginning with A. Martinez reaching on an error and Shea singling to left. Thies would then make a sacrifice bunt to move the runners in scoring position for freshman Kierstyn Aumua who would bring in A. Martinez and Shea with a single to make it 3-0 SCF.
The Manta Rays would then get on the board in the bottom of the third and tie the game after an RBI single freshman Brooklyn Davis, a bunt single by freshman Peyton Studt and an RBI fielder's choice by freshman Taylor Burton.
The Manatees would retake the lead as Hilderbrand single and second second and third base before stealing home to make it 4-3 before Aumua hit a solo home run to center for her first collegiate home run to make 5-3. The Manta Rays would retake the lead in the bottom half of the inning after a sacrifice fly by Masey Padgett and a two-run single by Riley Page to make it 6-5 FSCJ.
At the top of the sixth, Smith would tie the game with a solo home run to center for her first of the season before Hilderbrand hit an inside the park home run for her first collegiate home run of the season to make it 7-6 to retake the lead. The Manta Rays would eventually win the game in the bottom of the seventh on a walkoff sacrifice fly to win the game.
Hilderbrand would fall to 1-5 after giving up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits with five walks in six innings, while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, two runs and four stolen bases. A. Martinez threw two-thirds of a scoreless inning and went 1-for-4 with a run at the plate
Walker earned a no-decision after she gave up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout in five and two-third innings. Laura would earn the win and improve to 5-7 after throwing one and a third scoreless innings of relief with one strikeout.
Aumua would be the offensive leader as she went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Smith rounded out the order going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Shea (1-for-4, one run) and Alderson (1-for-2, one RBI) had the remaining hits for the Manatees.
Up Next:
The Manatees return to action as they face #2 ranked St. John's River State (31-9, 11-1 Sun Lakes) for their next conference series.