WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Fire took on the Keiser University Seahawks in a battle on the beach this afternoon. An offensive clinic drove Southeastern to a decisive 6-1 victory over Keiser in game one of a three game conference series.
Offensive damage commenced in the top of the second when the Fire amassed two runs. Sam Holcomb led off the inning with a missile single into center field. Layne Haynes followed up with a single of her own and, with one out, Taylor Stoltz's ground ball to the second baseman allowed Holcomb to score, putting the Fire up 1-0. A steal attempt by Stoltz from first to second then made it possible for pinch-runner Sammy Jacobson to score from third and give Southeastern a 2-0 lead.
The Seahawks answered back with one run of their own in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1, but Southeastern's Lindsie Scholwinski shut the Seahawks down in the innings to follow.
After a scoreless third, Southeastern went on to add runs in three consecutive innings. In the fourth, Kiah Ferrell took an 0-1 pitch and drilled the ball into centerfield for a double. Pinch runner Hannah Smith advanced on a passed ball to set an RBI groundout for Haynes, giving the Fire a 3-1 lead.
Additional run support came in the fifth. Mishawaka, Indiana native Stoltz led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After an RBI single by senior Cheyenne Blaha, Stoltz came around to score, increasing the Fire's lead to 4-1.
In continuing the common theme, Southeastern added two more runs in the top of the sixth. The inning was capped off by a two out, RBI single by Heather Faulk. As a result, the score moved to 6-1 where it remained.
Scholwinski, the Idaho native, was dominant for the Fire. Over the course of the complete game, Scholwinski only surrendered one run and three hits, and struck out eight in the process.
Cat Maldonado and Blaha both finished the day 3-4 at the plate. The tandem combined for two RBIs as well.
Southeastern will be back in action tomorrow for a twinbill starting at 11 a.m. to take on Keiser University once again.
