LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern softball snapped a six-game win streak early last week by falling twice to Grand View University, 4-3 then 6-2. They picked things up on Friday with two wins, including their 20
th of the season, over MidAmerica Nazarene University, 3-1 then 8-7.
On Monday, Grand View had big innings late in each game that propelled it to victory.
Southeastern was up 3-1 heading into the sixth inning of game one when a two-out, three-run homer put them in the deficit for good.
Game two was oddly familiar with Grand View scoring four runs in the top of the sixth to break open a 2-2 ballgame. This time it was on a two-run double followed by a two-run home run.
The Fire had a few days to recuperate before hitting the field for a doubleheader with MidAmerica Nazarene on Friday. Game one was tied at one after three full innings, but a squeeze bunt by
Annie Weaver in the bottom of the fourth but the winning run on the board.
Heather Faulk added the insurance run with a two-out RBI single in the same inning.
Lindsie Scholwinski pitched a five hitter in game one and struck out 10 of the 22 batters that she faced.
The second game of the day proved to be the game of the week as the Fire came back from a five run deficit to win by one. Down 7-2 in the bottom of the sixth they scored five runs with two outs, then
Sydnie Malloy hit a walk-off bomb in the leadoff spot of the seventh for the win.
Southeastern avoided an even deeper hole in the top of the fifth with a bases loaded triple play. The batter lined out to
Bri Girardin in center field then two throws later, the inning was over as the runners on both second and third were caught returning to the bag.
Cat Maldonado was 3-for-4 in game two with three of the five RBI's in the bottom of the sixth. Malloy was also 3-for-4 with three runs scored and the winning RBI.
Emily Bryant and Maldonado combined for the first six innings on the mound, giving up a total of 11 hits and five earned runs. Scholwinski notched the win in the final inning striking out two of the three batters she faced.
UP NEXT:Home DH vs. Mount Mercy University, Wednesday at 2 & 4 p.m.Last Year: 19-27, 8-16 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference…#6 seed in postseason conference play…Fell to #3 William Penn University 9-8 to end season.
This Year: 7-9, 2-3 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference/Independent…Split with West Virginia Tech in Clermont yesterday winning 5-4 then falling 8-0…Play Webber this afternoon and Embry-Riddle on Tuesday before traveling to Lakeland…Currently lead their conference in fielding percentage (0.960), assists per game (10.46), doubles per game (1.62), and home runs per game (0.85)…Led by senior outfielder #20 LJ Putzier who is hitting .432 with two home runs, five doubles, eight RBI's and seven runs scored.
West Virginia Tech, National Training Center, Clermont, Fla., Thursday at 5 & 7 p.m.Last Year: 14-22...Association of Independent member…Ended season with two losses to Ohio Christian University, 8-0 then 8-4.
This Year: 8-10, 1-1 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference…Split with Mount Mercy yesterday in Clermont falling 5-4 then winning 8-0…Play Tufts University and University of Northwestern this afternoon, then a DH with University of Northwestern on Wednesday before playing SEU…Currently lead their conference in batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.454), hits per game (8.5), and home runs (11)…Senior Megan Blythe and freshman Skylar Connelly both average over .400 at the plate with a combined 36 hits and 18 RBI's.
For all things Fire softball including scores and updates throughout the week, be sure to follow @SEUFireSoftball on Twitter.
