Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla.- Fire softball picked up its first two wins of the season, knocking off Point 14-6 in 6 innings, and Middle Georgia State 4-2.
In the first game of the day, the Fire picked up two quick runs in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Cat Maldonado and a throwing error following a stolen base by Brandee Pietrzak. However, two errors in the bottom half of the inning allowed the Skyhawks to tie the game up.
The Fire bats heated up in the second, totaling three runs on five hits, and benefited from an error. Brittany LaCasse hit an RBI single, and came around to score on the error. Annie Weaver also touched home in the inning on a fielder's choice.
Pitcher Susan Hinks, who picked up her first win with the Fire, struck out the side in the second, to open the door for a 4-run third for SEU. With two outs, Annie Weaver kicked off six straight hits for the Fire, and saw them take a 9-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Fire scraped across a run when Bri Girardin stole third, and scored on a throw down the left field line to give her team an eight-run lead. Point avoided being run-ruled with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on two hits, and one error.
Southeastern bounced back with four runs in the top of the sixth, and held off the Skyhawks just enough in the bottom of the inning.
Hinks worked four innings in the circle, surrendering just one earned run on two hits, and struck out seven.
The second game featured just a fraction of the offense the first game did.
In the bottom of the third, Cat Maldonado hit a two-out, two-run double to put the Fire up 2-0. The Knights answered with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to tie the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Anna Martin hit a double to left center to score Pietrzak, and Martin came around to score on a single by winning pitcher Sam Gale to make it 4-2.
Hinks came on to pitch the seventh, and faced bases loaded with two outs, and struck out the batter to record her first save of the season.
Gale earned the win, throwing 1.2 innings scoreless in relief of Emily Bryant.
Martin finished the day 5-for-7 at the plate with two RBIs and two doubles. Maldonado was 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Total, the Fire stole 13 bases, with 10 coming against Point.
Southeastern returns to Clermont Saturday to take on Point and Coastal Georgia.
