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Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla.—After improving to 29-9 on the season with a 4-0 win over Embry-Riddle, the Fire suffered their first Sun Conference loss of the year with a 3-1 loss to the Eagles during a doubleheader Thursday.
The offense started early for Southeastern in the first game, scoring on a missed fly ball in center field, and an RBI single by Sam Gale to take a 2-0 lead. They added another run in the third on an RBI single by Brandee Pietrzak.
SEU picked up a run in the fifth on another RBI single by Pietrzak.
Susan Hinks and Gale combined to work a five-hit shutout.
In the second game, the Fire bats were limited to just three hits on the day, one by Cat Maldonado in the sixth was a solo home run for the lone run of the game. It was Maldonado's 13th homer of the season.
The best chance for the Fire came in the bottom of the third, trailing 3-0 with the bases loaded and no outs. A pop out to shortstop, followed by a lineout back to the pitcher resulting in a double play ended the threat.
All three hits came from the top three in the lineup; Annie Weaver, Brittany LaCasse, and Maldonado.
Maldonado worked a complete game in the losing effort, surrendering two earned runs on nine hits. She struck out four and walked four in her first loss of the season.
The Fire return to conference play on Saturday when they travel to Warner University for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
