SIOUX CITY, IOWA—The Fire offense met its match in the NAIA World Series.
Saint Xavier pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher fanned nine batters during her complete game, three-hit shutout of Southeastern 3-0 to advance to the national championship game.
Southeastern (44-15) struggled with Nonnemachers' tough-to-catch riseball and devastating dropball.
Anna Martin came through with the team's first hit of the night, a single to left with one out in the second, but was left stranded following a strikeout.
Cheyenne Blaha came through with a two-out single to left in the next inning, but a flyout to left ended the inning.
Brandee Pietrzak singled to center field in the bottom of the fourth, but a double play got Nonnemacher out of the inning.
The Cougars (46-8-1) tallied runs in the first, third, and fourth innings and totaled eight hits and stranded eight baserunners.
Lindsie Scholwinski took the loss in the circle, despite six strikeouts.
The Fire will now await the winner of Oklahoma City and Auburn Montgomery with the winner advancing to the championship game.
