Softball | 4/20/2017 2:00:00 PM
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Fire softball team make the 223 mile trek to Miami Gardens where they will square off against St. Thomas University in the final three games of the 2017 regular season. Contests are slated for 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 & 3 p.m. on Saturday.
All three games will be broadcasted and equipped with live stats on portal.stretchinternet.com/STU
SERIES INFO
Date(s): April 21-22, 2017
Time(s): 6:00 p.m. I 1:00 p.m. I 3:00 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla.
Stadium: Bobcat Field
Livestream: portal.stretchinternet.com/STU
Twitter Updates: @SEUFireSoftball
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: 7-3
Streak: SEU has won 4
Lakeland: SEU leads 5-1
Miami Gardens: SEU leads 2-0
Neutral Site: STU leads 2-0
First Meeting: April 5, 2013
Last Meeting: April 17, 2016
SOUTHEASTERN FIRE
2017 Record: 35-13
2017 Sun Conference Record: 13-5
Head Coach:
Anna Welsh
Career: 548-214-2 (15th Season)
SEU: 182-80 (4th Season)
2017 STAT LEADERS
AVG:
Cheyenne Blaha (.440)
2B:
Kiah Ferrell (13)
HR: Blaha, Pietrzak (5)
RBI:
Brandee Pietrzak (31)
SB:
Heather Faulk (21)
ST. THOMAS BOBCATS
2017 Record: 10-17
2017 Sun Conference Record: 5-13
Head Coach: Jeff Norman
Career: 145-201(8th Season)
STU: 145-201 (8th Season)
2017 STAT LEADERS
AVG: Alliyah Sands (.338)
2B: Alexis Castroman (5)
HR: Alliyah Sands (4)
RBI: Alliyah Sands (17)
SB: Melody Grafals (7)
During a ten game stretch the Fire posted a 7-3 record with their most recent series win coming against Ave Maria University. The Fire powered their way to two conference wins and capped the four game set off with a 10-4 win.
After falling in three straight games, the Bobcats bounced back with a 9-6 win against Keiser University. In the 2017 season thus far, the Bobcats amassed the second worst winning percentage in program history (.270).
The Fire possess a formidable pitching staff that ranks fifth in all of the NAIA in strikeouts (227). Freshman
Stef Guercio contributes immensely this statistic posting an ERA of 1.73 while striking out 138.
Pietrzak, the junior catcher, is one of the many reasons for the Fire's offensive success as of late. The native of Indiana is hitting .385 in her last 10 games.
Southeastern's offense will face a Bobcat defense that has scuffled defensively throughout the duration of the season. St. Thomas ranks 19th in all of the NAIA in errors per game (2.297). Extra baserunners only play into the advantage of the Fire as they are able to utilize the speed at the top of the lineup to generate runs.
With the playoffs readily approaching, the Fire sit one game back of first place. The Fire are trying to repeat as Sun Conference regular season and potentially could accomplish this feat with a little help from University of South Carolina Beaufort. St. Thomas finds themselves in 7th place and one game back of a tournament appearance. The stakes are heightened in Sun Conference action as both teams have a great deal riding on the final series of the year.
TEAM QUICK NOTES
*
Lindsie Scholwinski ranks 14th in all of the NAIA in wins (17.)
* The Fire are currently seated 10th in all of the NAIA in total stolen Bases (103).
* Southeastern has outscored opponents 254-131.
* In conference play the Fire have hit 13 home runs.
