LAKELAND, Fla.—The Southeastern softball team took both games of a doubleheader with Chestnut Hill College on Thursday by scores of 7-1 and 4-3, respectively.
In game one, pitcher
Stef Guercio starred for the Fire. Guercio surrendered only two hits on the day, while giving up the sole run of the afternoon in the top of the second inning. The freshman ended the contest with eight total strikeouts after going the distance.
Offensively, the Fire put two runs on the board early in the contest, coming off the bats of
Laney Haynes and
Cat Maldonado. After the Griffins made it a one run game, Southeastern added a few insurance runs in the home half of the fifth and sixth innings. Two of those insurance runs were courtesy of Maldonado and Haynes, who finished tied for the game-high with two RBIs each.
The second game of the day featured a back-and-forth thriller. After a solo homerun put the Griffins ahead in the top of the second inning, the Fire responded immediately with two runs in the bottom of the inning of the bats of
Alexandra Millett and
Sydnie Malloy.
The Griffins then answered with two Ariel Magee RBIs to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Once again, the Fire were equal to the task, as
Natalie Hughes hit a solo bomb to even the game at three. Hughes ended the day going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
After Guercio came into the game in relief of Maldonado, she tallied four more strikeouts and surrendered only a single hit, giving the Fire a chance to end the competition in dramatic fashion. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning,
Sam Holcomb singled home
Reed Jahnke to secure the win 4-3, complete the sweep, and improve the team's record to 15-6.
The Fire will be back in action tomorrow at home for a doubleheader against West Virginia Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.
