LAKELAND, FLA.--Another Sun Conference opponent has been swept by the Fire. This time, it was Polk county rival Warner University that fell victim to the hot bats of Southeastern. In a doubleheader sweep, Southeastern won by scores of 6-0 and 9-7.
In game one,
Lindsie Scholwinski of Southeastern and Chelsie Valentine of Warner were engaged in a pitcher's duel through the first three innings. However, the Southeastern offense figured Valentine out in the fourth inning.
Sydnie Malloy reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a
Cheyenne Blaha walk.
Annie Weaver drove in Malloy with a single, and then
Heather Faulk singled to load the bases for
Taylor Stoltz. A couple pitches later, Stoltz blasted a bases-clearing triple into the right-center field gap to make it a 4-0 lead.
Bri Girardin singled to drive in Stoltz to give the Fire a five-run lead.
A Weaver double in the sixth scored
Emily Bryant to make it a 6-0 game. Scholwinski stayed strong as she dominated the Royals lineup on her way to a complete-game shutout. The lefty gave up only four hits, one walk, and struck out three.
Game two started out on a high note;
Brandee Pietrzak hit her fourth home run of the year to give the Fire a 1-0 lead in the first. In the second, Girardin hit an RBI triple of her own to score Stoltz. Pietrzak drove in Girardin with a single and later came around to score on an error. After two, it was 4-0.
Warner got on the board in the top of the third, and Southeastern answered in the bottom half of the inning when Blaha hit a line drive over the left field fence for her first homer of the year.
The Royals got another run in the fourth and three more in the sixth to even the contest at five. In the bottom of the sixth,
Cat Maldonado drove in Girardin with an RBI double, and Martin followed with a three-run homer to extend the Fire lead to 9-5. Warner had a chance to tie the game in the seventh after getting a couple runs, but Scholwinski was able to force the flyout to end the game.
Scholwinski pitched her second complete game of the day and improved her record to 22-4. The junior lowered her ERA to 1.70.
After the wins, Southeastern stands at 32-10 and a perfect 6-0 in The Sun Conference. Warner falls to 19-19 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
The Fire are back in action next Friday when conference rival Keiser University comes to town for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.. On Saturday, St. Thomas will come to Lakeland for a doubleheader starting at the same times. You can follow @SEUFireSoftball on Twitter for updates.
