LAKELAND, Fla. - Southeastern's softball team took on Calumet College of St. Joseph's in an action-packed three game series. After falling in game one 7-6 in extra innings, the Fire bounced back and captured games two and three by scores of 2-1 and 9-2.
Game 1: The Crimson Wave began game one hot, drawing blood in the first inning. Sadie Conner jumped on the first pitch of the game, lacing the ball into the right-centerfield gap for a lead-off double. With two outs in the top half of the first, an error allowed Conner to score from third, giving the Crimson Wave a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, the Crimson Wave increased their lead by two, making the score 3-0.
With one out in the bottom of the third, the Fire cracked the goose egg and got on the board. As a result of an RBI, one-out single by freshman Kiah Ferrell, Sam Holcomb came around to score.
A few innings later, in the bottom of the fifth, the Fire generated five runs on three hits. The inning broke wide open after a great piece of situational hitting by Cheyenne Blaha brought home Brandee Pietrzak. A three-run moonshot over the left field fence by Sydnie Malloy then capped off the inning, extending the Fire's lead to 6-3.
Southeastern had an opportunity to close out the game in the top half of the seventh, but were unable to do so. The Crimson Wave pushed across three runs to tie the ballgame at 6-6. The Fire went quietly in the bottom of the seventh, which forced extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Crimson Wave's Tiffany Galindo triggered the offense with a one-out single. Sadie Conner reached base after an uncharacteristic fielder's choice allowed Tiffany Galindo to score from third, making the score 7-6.
Southeastern strung two hits together in the bottom of the eighth, but could not push across a run, resulting in a 7-6 loss to the Crimson Wave.
Game 2: Seven innings were also not enough to decide game two. The Crimson Wave struck first in game two as well, after a leadoff home run over the left field-fence by Geena Locicero gave Calumet a 1-0 lead.
After four scoreless innings, Southeastern needed to manufacture a much needed run, and they did just that in the fifth inning. Following a leadoff walk by Cat Maldonado, the Fire executed a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch-runner Heather Faulk to second base. Blaha worked a walk, setting up a 1st and 3rd situation. Known for her tactician-style coaching, Head Coach Anna Welsh put Blaha in motion on the pitch, drawing a throw from the Crimson Wave catcher, which went into centerfield, allowing Faulk to score from third.
During extra innings, an international tie-breaker was put into effect to decide the winner of game two. Because of this rule set, Southeastern's Pietrzak was placed on second with no outs. Ferrell, the native of Plainfield, Indiana, laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance Pietrzak to third. As a result of late game heroics, Maldonado ended the game with a ground ball to the shortstop, allowing Pietrzak to beat the tag at home plate and the Fire to secure the 2-1 victory.
For the majority of game two, both pitchers kept the bats silent. Kali Weyer of the Crimson Wave took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Southeastern freshman Stef Guercio dealt eight innings, documenting six strikeouts and surrendering just one earned run.
Game 3: The rubber match surely did not disappoint Fire fans. Southeastern committed the majority of the offensive damage, starting in the bottom of the second. With one out and runners on first and second, Maldonado laced a double into left field, giving the Fire an early 1-0 lead. A squeeze bunt by Alexandra Millett scored Faulk from third, extending Southeastern's lead to 2-0.
Calumet tied the game in the top of the fifth inning, but the Fire blew the doors wide open with a four run fifth, highlighted by a Holcomb homer over the centerfield wall to increase Southeastern's lead to 6-2.
The Fire added three more in the sixth with the help of Maldonado who doubled once more to deep right-center, collecting her second RBI of the game. Holcomb doubled to bring in Maldonado and increase the lead to 8-2. With one out, a sacrifice fly from Blaha scored Holcomb, advancing the score to 9-2 where it would remain for the duration of the game.
As a result of today's two victories, the Fire improved to 9-2 on the season. Southeastern will gear back up on Monday, February 27, at 11 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. when they take on #15 Davenport University.
