LAKELAND, Fla. – In their final test before Sun Conference play begins, Southeastern softball split with NCAA Division II Eckerd College this afternoon, losing 2-0 first then taking game two 11-3 in five innings.
Game one was a pitching dual with the Tritons' only two runs coming in the top of the seventh.
For the Fire it was
Lindsie Scholwinski who powered through all seven innings. She gave up two unearned runs on four hits and walked six. Most impressive were her 12 strikeouts that helped her break the school's single-season record. In 23 games she has 168 K's.
Nikole Van Gennep only allowed one Fire hit, a single to short belonging to
Annie Weaver, while giving two free passes and striking out five.
The Fire left five total runners on all game. Their biggest chance came in the bottom of the fourth with bases loaded and one out, but they weren't able to capitalize.
Game two couldn't have been more opposite as the Fire scattered 11 hits through five innings including a two run homer from
Emily Bryant; the first of her collegiate career.
With the game knotted at three through two and a half innings, Bryant sent a bomb to dead center to give the Fire a 5-3 lead and they never looked back.
Taylor Stoltz and Cat Maldondado teamed up for run six in the bottom of the fourth. Stoltz singled in the leadoff spot, then, with two outs, Maldonado sent a double deep down the left field line for the RBI.
Fittingly, the bottom of the fifth was home to the final five runs on six Fire hits.
Sydnie Malloy and Bryant hit consecutive singles to kick things off, then
Annie Weaver moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Malloy scored next thanks to a
Heather Faulk single then Stoltz singled to score Bryant.
Bri Girardin was next and she tripled to deep right field for runs nine and ten, then
Brandee Pietrzak followed with a double to deep right-center for the win.
Two bases loaded walks and an RBI from Faulk put the Fire's first three runs on the board in the bottom of the second.
Four Fire hitters had two hits in game two while five hitters had two RBI's apiece. Bryant ended the game 2-for-2 with two RBI's and three runs scored.
With the win Maldonado moved to 8-4 in the circle. In four and a third innings she allowed five hits, three unearned runs, and walked one.
The Fire's Sun Conference slate is set to begin on Friday afternoon against reigning TSC Tournament Champions, University of South Carolina Beaufort. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
