LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 3 Southeastern University softball team is back in action this week with a pair of key series. The Fire are coming off midweek doubleheader sweeps of Chestnut Hill College and WVU Tech before dropping two of three in their Sun Conference opener versus Warner. SEU will host No. 17 Grand View University before traveling to West Palm Beach to continue TSC play versus Keiser University.
GAMES: No. 3 Southeastern (18-8) vs. No. 17 Grand View (9-1) Tuesday 2:30/4:30 p.m. | Keiser (10-8, 0-3 TSC) vs. No. 3 Southeastern (18-8, 1-2 TSC) Friday 4:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m./1:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Grand View:
Live Stats Video Keiser:
Live Stats Video
EVERY OUT BEGINS WITH K: The Fire pitching staff has sat down opposing batters via the punch out time after time this season. SEU arms rank third in all NAIA in strikeouts, with 161 on the season. Freshman righty
Stef Guercio leads the Fire in Ks with 85 while senior southpaw
Lindsie Scholwinski has fanned 67 bats thus far.
TORCHING THE BASEPATHS: SEU has also been one of the most active base running teams in the nation this season. With 63 total stolen bases on the season, the Fire rank sixth in the NAIA. Junior outfielder
Taylor Stoltz leads the Fire in swiped bags with 13 on the season while sophomore third baseman
Heather Faulk is a perfect 12-12 on steals.
PREVIOUSLY GRAND VIEW: The Fire dropped both games of the doubleheader to the Vikings last season.
Brandee Pietrzak was 2-3 at the plate in game one, launching a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth before the Vikings pulled away in the seventh to win 4-3. The Fire dropped game two 6-2 after surrendering 12 hits to GVU. Southeastern leads the all-time series versus Grand View 6-2.
PREVIOUSLY KEISER: SEU swept Keiser in the doubleheader played at home last season. The first game was a 5-0 shutout in which Scholwinski pitched a complete game and diced up 11 Seahawks. The Fire blanked the Seahawks again in game two by a score of 2-0. This time it was
Cat Maldonado going the distance, striking out three in the complete game shutout. Southeastern leads the all-time series versus Keiser 7-0.
THE VIKINGS: Grand View is off to another solid start after posting its second consecutive appearance in the NAIA Opening Round last season. The Vikings have won eight straight, recently sweeping RV Oklahoma Wesleyan in a four game series. At the plate, GVU is led by junior infielder Kate Crow. The Ames, Iowa native is batting .457 on the season with five doubles, a homer, and five runs batted in. Junior right handed pitcher Claudia Farrell has been dominant on the mound. Farrell is 5-0 with 33 strikeouts, two shutouts, and has limited opposing bats to a .124 average.
THE SEAHAWKS: Keiser has cooled off after an 8-1 start to the season. The Seahawks have now lost seven of their last nine, including being swept in their TSC opener by Thomas three games to none. Senior shortstop Kristen Garceau has been a strong veteran presence in the lineup. The Detroit-Mercy transfer is batting .478 with 32 base hits and ranks fifth in the NAIA in stolen bases with 19 on 20 attempts. Senior righty Riley Caylor anchors the Keiser pitching staff. The former Polk State pitcher has a 2.42 ERA in 10 starts this season and has struck out 47.
