Softball Takes Series with Split Over South Florida State

Avon Park, Fla - The SCF softball team (2-4, 2-4 Sun Lakes) were able to take their first series in Sun Lakes Conference play as they split with South Florida State (4-18, 1-5 Sun Lakes) losing game one 11-8 before winning game two 10-9 to take the series 2-1.

"It was a decent day," said head coach Brett Sauerwein. "The goal is always to win the series so getting our first one feels great. The team got to feel what it feels like to win a series, which is a great experience moving forward into the rest of season.

"Overall, I felt the team came together as a whole and picked each other up," said freshman A'Lana Martinez. "We didn't let one thing bring us down and continued to be resilient throughout these games. It honestly felt great to win our first series and it was definitely a confidence booster as it showed what we can do together as a team."

Game One:

Sauerwein sent freshman Brooke-Lynn Hilderbrand to the mound for game one, while South Florida State head coach Carlos Falla went with freshman Nicole Rivera.

The Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the first as Martinez scored on a fielding error before freshman Bri Thies would bring in classmate Kaitlyn Shea to make it 2-0 SCF. The Panthers would respond in the bottom half of the inning as Ava Matrascia would bring in a run on a fielder's choice before they took a 6-2 lead after scoring two on a fielding error, two on a two-run single and one on an RBI double.

SCF would not go quietly at the top of the third beginning with a one-out single by freshman Kierstyn Aumua. After stealing second Thies would drive Aumua in with a single to center. Following a walk by Hilderbrand and a single by freshman Joni Taylor, sophomore Kamryn Martinez would then reach first on a fielder's choice after Thies was called out at home. Freshman Julianna Hess would then drive in Hilderbrand with a bases-loaded walk before Martinez hit a single to drive in Taylor to make it 6-5 still in South Florida State's favor. 

Thies would then tie the game at 6-6 at the top of the fourth as she hit a triple to bring in freshman Kaitlyn Shea, but the Panthers would extend the lead to 8-6 in the bottom half of the inning after two RBI singles.

A. Martinez would then drive in K. Martinez with a double to left center at the top of the fifth, but the Panthers would respond with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it an 11-6 lead.

The Manatees would put one more run on the board at the top of the seventh as Thies would bring in A. Martinez with a bases-loaded walk, but it would be all they could produce as the Panther took game one.

Hilderbrand would fall to 0-3 after giving up 11 runs (seven earned) on eight hits with seven walks in six innings. She was also 1-for-4 with a run and a walk.

Rivera would improve to 1-6 after giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings. She also went 2-for-2 with two RBI at the plate. 

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was A. Martinez that lead the way in hitting as she went 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and one stolen base. Thies would lead the way in RBI as she went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one walk. 

Taylor (2-for-3) and Shea (2-for-5) rounded out the order with two hits apiece. Taylor added one run and one walk, while Shea added one run and two stolen bases.

Aumua (1-for-4, one run and two stolen bases) and K. Martinez (1-for-4, one run and one stolen base) had the remaining hits for the Manatees.

Game Two:

Looking to take the series, Sauerwein sent A. Martinez to pitch the second game, while Falla went with sophomore Megan Bint.

After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the second. After Thies hit a leadoff single and Taylor drew a walk, Hilderbrand would bunt and reach on a throwing error as Thies scored. K. Martinez would then bring in Taylor in with a single to center before freshman Jasmine Huber sent a single of her own to right to bring in Hilderbrand and classmate Josie Alderson brought in Kamryn Martinez with a groundout to make it 4-0 SCF.

The Panthers would then take the lead with an eight-run third inning made it 8-4. The Manatees would not give up as they cut the deficit at the top of the fourth beginning with K. Martinez getting hit by a pitch before stealing second. One out later, Alderson would reach first on a fielding error and advance to second on a passed ball before A. Martinez drove in K. Martinez on a fielder's choice. 

After Shea drew a walk to load the bases, freshman Joey Gray would come in for Bint on the mound. The change would give the Manatees some life with Aumua at the plate as the Hawaiian, on an 0-1 count, would send a double to right to bring in Alderson and A. Martinez before Shea scored on a error to tie the game at 8-8. Taylor would then hit a sacrifice fly and bring in Aumua to make it 9-8 SCF.

After the fifth inning went scoreless, the Panthers would tie the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the sixth after an RBI single by Aziyia Patterson. The Manatees would not back down at the top of seventh with K. Martinez up at the plate as the Colorado native would send a leadoff solo home run to center for her first collegiate home run in her career. It would end up being the decider as the Manatees sealed the victory and the series.

"Kam's clutch home run was just the momentum we needed to shut South Florida State down," said Sauerwein on K. Martinez's home run.

A. Martinez would improve to 2-1 after throwing a complete game, giving up nine runs (two earned) on four hits with 10 walks and three strikeouts. She was also 3-for-5 at the plate with one run, one RBI and one stolen base. The Cooper City, Florida native would finish the series 7-for-12 with three RBI and two stolen bases.

"I feel that I was very confident both at the plate and on the mound, which definitely led me to success," said A. Martinez. "I'm just very proud of myself for helping out my team on both sides of the game."

"A'Lana is a 'dog'," said Sauerwein on A. Martinez. "She can do it with the bat, the glove and in the circle. Her hitting performance was great, but we have a lot of kids on this team that made an impact with the stick from game to game."

Bint would fall to 0-4 after giving up eight runs (five earned) on five hit with two walks in three and a third innings. Gray would give up two runs (one earned) on six hits with two strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings of relief.

Aside from A. Martinez, Aumua (2-for-4), Thies (2-for-4) and K. Martinez (2-for-3) had two hits each. Aumua added two RBI and one run, Thies added one run and one RBI and K. Martinez added three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases.

Hilderbrand (1-for-4, one run and one stolen base) and Huber (1-for-3, one RBI) had the remaining two hits for the Manatees.

Sun Lakes Conference Standings:

1. #3 St. John's River State (21-9, 5-1)

2. Florida Gateway College (17-15, 5-1)

3. Lake Sumter State (9-9, 4-2)

4. Pasco Hernando State (13-12, 1-2)

5. SCF (2-4, 2-4)

6. South Florida State (4-18, 1-5)

7. Florida State College at Jacksonville (9-15, 0-3)

Up Next:

The Manatees will enjoy a little breather during their spring break as they will face Pasco Hernando State (13-12, 1-2 Sun Lakes) Friday afternoon, March 14 at 4 pm.