Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla.—Timely hitting carried the Fire to their 17th and 18th wins of the season, notching 4-3, and 10-3 wins over Grand View University.
A two-out, three-run home run in the top of the first gave the Vikings the early lead, as the Fire struggled at the plate. SEU didn't record its first hit of the game until the bottom of the fourth on a bunt single by freshman Brandee Pieterzak. An RBI single by Kaleigh Floyd tied the game at three.
In the bottom of the sixth, Floyd picked up another RBI single, scoring Cat Maldonado, who led off the inning with a single up the middle.
After giving up the homer, starting pitcher Susan Hinks settled in and scattered just four hits over her final six innings of work, earning her eighth win of the season. Hinks struck out four and walked just one.
In Game 2, the Fire took the lead on another RBI single by Floyd, bringing in Pietrzak, who singled up the middle. Grand View answered with a two-run homer in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
That's when the Fire started taking over offensively, scoring three in the bottom of the third on a squeeze play by Brittany LaCasse, then a two-run homer by Cat Maldonado, her 10th of the season, to take a 4-2 advantage.
They went on to add six in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and two errors to break the game open. Annie Weaver had an RBI single to center, then Sam Silver scored on a bases-loaded walk to LaCasse, and Bri Girardin stole home on the same play. An illegal pitch allowed Weaver to score. LaCasse came around to score on an error, then Brianna Perez scored while pinch running for Maldonado, and was given home plate on an obstruction call.
Maldonado earned the win in relief of Emily Bryant. Bryant threw the first 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walked three, and struck out three. Maldonado worked the remaining 3.2, allowing just two hits and two walks, coaxing eight groundouts.
Pietrzak finished the day 4-for-6, and Floyd was 3-for-6 with four RBIs.
The Fire return to action on Wednesday against Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
