GULF SHORES, Ala.—The Fire won their first game of the Gulf Shores Invitational, then came up short in extra innings to fourth ranked LSU Alexandria during the first day of play in Alabama.
The bats erupted for nine runs on 10 hits in a 9-4 win over Blue Mountain State.
Sydnie Malloy led the way with three hits and three runs scored in four at bats.
In the third inning, the Fire picked up a run on a bases-loaded walk to
Anna Martin, then added two more on a single to left by
Natalie Hughes to put the Fire up 4-0.
The Fire added three more in the sixth when
Annie Weaver led off the inning with a double, then scored on an error. A sacrifice bunt by
Heather Faulk scored Malloy, who also doubled. Malloy scored on a wild pitch.
Cat Maldonado earned the win, throwing five innings and allowing two earned runs on seven hits. The junior totaled three strikeouts, no walks, and coaxed nine groundouts.
Against LSUA, the Fire took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single by Alex Millett and an error.
Pitcher
Lindsie Scholwinski retired the first seven hitters she saw, including strikeouts to the first three of the day.
In the bottom of the fourth, LSUA took a 3-2 lead, on a 3-run home run to right field, but the Fire answered back with a run in the fifth to tie the game, picking up the tying run on a wild throw to third on a stolen base.
Southeastern regained the lead in the top of the sixth on a squeeze play by
Bri Girardin, which scored
Brandee Pietrzak. However, LSUA sent the game to extra innings by tying it with a two-out RBI double in the sixth.
The Fire scored in the eighth on a single by Pietrzak, scoring Faulk, who started the inning at second as the international tiebreaker.
The Generals tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk, then won it on a single to center field.
Pietrzak was the top hitter, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Scholwinski took the loss, working 7.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, striking out eight and walking five.
The Fire return to action tomorrow against Lindsey Wilson and Morningside with play beginning at 9 a.m.
