LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 15 Southeastern University softball team looks to continue its hot streak, having won eight straight. During that stretch, the Fire have outscored opponents 59-14 and held opposing bats to a cumulative .206 performance at the plate. SEU is fresh off a weekend sweep of defending Sun Conference Tournament Champion Webber International. The Fire gear up to host a marquee doubleheader versus No. 3 Columbia College (Mo.) tomorrow afternoon before hitting the road to continue TSC play at RV South Carolina Beaufort this weekend.
GAMES: No. 15 Southeastern (27-9) vs. No. 3 Columbia (Mo.) (21-2) Tuesday 2:30/4:30 p.m. | RV South Carolina Beaufort (18-14, 4-5 TSC) vs. No. 15 Southeastern (27-9, 7-2 TSC) Friday 5:30 p.m. Saturday 12:00/ 2:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Columbia:
Live Stats Video USCB:
Live Stats Video
THE GUERSHOW: Freshman right handed pitcher
Stef Guercio has been dicing on the mound. In four appearances last week, the Park Ridge Ill. Native allowed just one hit and struck out 13 batters. This included the third no hitter in program history that Guercio tossed in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus Webber. She also picked up a save in game two of the doubleheader, preserving the 3-2 victory. Opposing hitters mustered up a mere .038 combined average versus Guercio last week.
PREVIOUSLY COLUMBIA: The Fire swept the home doubleheader versus the Cougars last season. Senior lefty
Lindsie Scholwinski was dynamic in the 1-0 game one victory, hurling a complete game shutout in which she struck out 11 of the 23 batters she faced. SEU took advantage of Columbia miscues in the 4-3 game two win, scoring three of those runs on a passed ball, wild pitch, and bases loaded walk. Last year was the first time the two programs had ever met.
PREVIOUSLY USCB: The Fire took both regular season meetings against the Sand Sharks last season by scores of 14-2 and 4-3. However, USCB knocked SEU out of the TSC tourney by handing the Fire 3-1 defeat. Senior
Cat Maldonado was dialed in at the plate versus the Sand Sharks last year, hitting .417 with two dingers, eight runs batted in, and two runs scored in the three meetings. Southeastern leads the all-time series versus South Carolina Beaufort 6-5.
THE COUGARS: After not having made the NAIA National Tournament since 2010, Columbia is well on its way to making it back in the dance. At 21-2, the Cougars have not lost a game since February 19 and in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll made the jump from being non-ranked to number three in the nation. Columbia has established itself as an offensive juggernaut, ranking first in the NAIA in runs scored per game (9), hits per game (12), team batting average (.413), and team slugging percentage (.628). The top offensive threat for the Cougars is senior outfielder Carly Spalding, who is hitting .511 with 38 runs scored, 28 RBI, three homers, and 30 stolen bases.
THE SAND SHARKS: A six game skid during the first week of March hurt South Carolina Beaufort's chances of climbing the ranks into the Top 25. The Sand Sharks are 4-6 in their last ten and most recently dropped two of three at home to Keiser. USCB ranks in the bottom half of the conference in team batting average (.307), runs scored per game (4.44), hits allowed (218), and team ERA (2.98). Sophomore right handed pitcher Abby Pac has been a constant for the Sand Sharks. In her last five starts, Pac is 4-1 with 19 strikeouts, a 1.71 ERA, and has tossed a complete game in each outing.
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