SIOUX CITY, Iowa—Of the 10 remaining teams in the NAIA Softball World Series, Southeastern is the only one making its first appearance.
The Fire take on No. 3 seed St. Gregory's on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Central Time in their first game of the double elimination bracket.
LIVE VIDEO
Stretch Internet, the NAIA's official video-streaming company of NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the World Series. The All-World Series can be purchased for $29.95 or the day package for $9.95. For more information, including how to register for an account, click
here.
LIVE STATS
Fans can follow play-by-play on the go with Dakstats live stats free of charge.
BRINGING HOME HARDWARE
Southeastern secured its first Opening Round title, going 3-0 as the No. 1 seed in the Davenport Bracket. Southeastern defeated Indiana Wesleyan 5-0 in the first game, rallied to beat Olivet Nazarene 11-6 in the second game, then beat Indiana Wesleyan 9-0 in the championship.
CAT-A-PULT TO VICTORY
Junior
Cat Maldonado went 3-for-4 in the championship game with seven RBIs. A double in the fourth got the Fire on the scoreboard for the first time, and her home run in the fifth put the game away. Maldonado also pitched two perfect innings in relief.
FIRST BASE
During the Opening Round, Southeastern recorded a team on-base percentage of .419 during the three game tournament. Leading the way was senior
Bri Girardin at .636, totaling four hits in eight at bats, and drew three walks.
Anna Martin (.600), and
Annie Weaver (.500) also reached half the time or better.
SECOND BASE
In the three games of the Opening Round, the Fire totaled 10 doubles, helping the team slugging percentage hit .484 for the tourney.
THIRD BASE
After missing 49 games, senior
Brittany LaCasse is back in the lineup and has a new position. The 2015 All-Sun Conference shortstop is now the starting third baseman for SEU. In seven total games, LaCasse has 13 assists and five putouts with just one error.
GETTING DIRTY
Following three games in The Sun Conference Tournament that featured suspect defense by the Red and Black, the Fire were perfect on defense in Michigan. Middle infielders
Sydnie Malloy and
Taylor Stoltz combined for 20 assists, and Maldonado totaled a team-high 23 putouts.
FIRST UP
The Cavaliers of St. Gregory's is the first opponent for Southeastern this weekend. SGU sports a 46-5 record, with three of those losses coming to top-seeded Oklahoma City. The Cavaliers are fifth in the NAIA in offense, averaging 6.9 runs per game, a .357 team batting average, and a .527 team slugging percentage. Ashli Hafford is the biggest offensive threat, hitting .504 this season with a .971 slugging percentage, and 17 home runs.
Bryn Houlton is the team leader in appearances in the pitching circle, totaling a 17-2 record with two saves and a 1.75 ERA in 104 innings.
FAMILIAR FACES
Sun Conference foe Webber International is also among the participants in Sioux City. The Fire went 1-2 against the Warriors this season. SEU also faced Webber's first opponent, Morningside at the Gulf Coast Invitational this season, losing 10-6 in extra innings. No. 8 seed Marian was the first team the Fire ever faced in an Opening Round game last season at Lindsey Wilson. The Fire came away with an 8-5 win. Two years ago, Southeastern upset seventh ranked and eventual national champion Auburn Montgomery at the Gulf Coast Invitational with a 9-2 win. The Warhawks, now the two-time defending national champions are the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
NEXT
Complete Bracket
With a win, the Fire will face the winner of Auburn Montgomery and the Morningside/Webber International winner at 7 p.m. Central Time on Monday. With a loss, the Fire will be back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. Central Time against the Morningside/Webber International loser.
