Conference Play Highlights Busy Week for Fire Softball

LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern comes off a 3-1 week after sweeping Mount Mercy on Wednesday then splitting with West Virginia Tech on Thursday.
 
Lindsie Scholwinski pitched a three-hit shutout against Mount Mercy in game one for the 6-0 win. In 12 innings all week, the junior out of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho allowed only seven hits and struck out 18 of 43 batters faced.
 
Game two was a 3-1 comeback win for the fire. Down 1-0 after a Mount Mercy run in the top of the fifth, the Fire scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth for the win. Bri Girardin scored the tying run on a Brandee Pietrzak double, then Cat Maldonado singled to cross Pietrzak for the go-ahead.
 
The next day, the Fire outhit West Virginia Tech 15-4 for the 18-0 game-one win. Six Fire hitters had multiple hits including a 3-for-3 effort from Girardin. Maldonado was 2-for-3 in the game with a home run and led the team with four RBI's.
 
Tables turned in game two as Southeastern was outhit 11-3 in the 6-3 loss. Maldonado pitched the first two innings giving up six earned runs and eight hits for her fourth loss of the season. Emily Bryant pitched the rest, giving up no runs on three hits.
 
Two home doubleheaders remain before the Fire hit the road to kickoff Sun Conference play.  
 
UP NEXT
Home vs. Columbia College, Monday, March 28^th, 2 & 4 p.m.
Last Year: 29-18, 16-8 in the American Midwest Conference…#6 seed in the AMC Tournament…Defeated #2 Park University 2-0 to claim the AMC Championship…Fell to Central Methodist, 6-3, then to Cardinal Stritch, 5-4, to bow out of the NAIA Opening Round.
This Year: 14-12, 6-6 AMC…Most recently split conference doubleheader with Missouri Baptist, winning 1-0 then falling 1-0…Lead the NAIA in triples (21) and are second in triples per game (0.808)…Led by freshman shortstop #4 Molly Carter who is hitting .435 with seven doubles, four triples and 21 RBI's.
 
Home vs. Eckerd College (NCAA DII), Wednesday, March 30^th, 2 & 4 p.m.
Last Year: 33-20, 10-14 in the Sunshine State Conference…Swept SEU in the first games of the season, 2-1 then 14-5…Did not advance to the postseason.
This Year: 22-12-1, 7-5 SSC…Most recently swept Lynn University in a conference doubleheader, 11-7 then 6-4…Freshman pitcher #9 Nikole Van Gennep leads the team in batting average with a .343 that includes seven doubles, a triple and two homers…From the mound Van Gennep is 13-8 with a 1.44 ERA…Sophomore outfielder #13 Carrie Shere trails Van Gennep with a .327 batting average, but leads the team in RBI's (26), home runs (7), triples (2), and runs scored (27).
 
@ University of South Carolina Beaufort (TSC), Friday, April 1^st, 1 & 3 p.m.
Last Year: 42-14, 13-3 TSC...Swept by SEU in the regular season, 5-4 then 8-1…Beat SEU 8-0 in the semifinals of the TSC Tournament...Won the TSC Championship by defeating Ave Maria twice, 8-3 then 15-6…Went 2-0 in the NAIA Opening Round before falling twice to Campbellsville, 6-5 in 12 innings then 7-2.
This Year: 15-14…Most recently swept Kentucky Christian, 7-1 then 2-1…Second in the conference behind SEU in batting average (.313)…14^th in the NAIA in total strikeouts (156)…Pitcher Ashlie Layman is fifth in the NAIA in hits allowed per nine innings (3.63) and sixth in opponent batting average (.152)…Led by senior catcher #25 Whitley Martin who is hitting .422 with 19 RBI's and 18 runs scored.  
 
@ Thomas University (TSC), Saturday, April 2^nd, 1 & 3 p.m.
Last Year: 35-13, 12-4 TSC…Swept by SEU, 9-3 then 6-3…#5 seed in postseason TSC play…Lost to Ave Maria 4-3 then beat St. Thomas 4-1 before bowing out of the TSC Tournament with a 7-1 loss to Embry-Riddle.
This Year: 10-13…On a four game losing streak having most recently been swept by Concordia and Coastal Georgia…Play Warner on Friday before welcoming SEU on Saturday...Fourth in the conference in RBI's per game (4.22)…Lead the NAIA in putouts per game (21.44)…Sophomore #24 Michael Cooper leads the team hitting .397 with 28 RBI's, 15 runs scored, five doubles, and six home runs.
 
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