LAKELAND, Fla.—It will be a busy weekend for Fire softball as it heads to the Mississippi coast for an eight-game set.
The six-game win streak the Fire are on will be put to the test as they take on eighth-ranked Mobile Wednesday for a doubleheader, then will face three ranked or receiving votes squads over the weekend at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
The pitching staff has been a key strength for SEU in its first 12 games, ranking third in the NAIA in total strikeouts with 80 in 77 innings of work. Additionally, the pitching staff has held its opponents to a batting average of .200, which is eighth-best in the NAIA.
At the plate, the 90 runs scored by the Fire rank 10
th nationally. The team has also shown the ability to make adjustments and make late pushes with 50 of those 90 runs coming in the fifth inning or later.
Sophomore outfielder
Lauren Watters has a hit in 10 of her 12 games played this season and was 5-for-11 in the team's four games in Clermont. Watters and
Bailee Moll are the squad's co-leaders in RBIs with 11 each.
Mobile is coming off a doubleheader sweep of fifth-ranked Georgia Gwinnett, walking off 5-4 in nine innings, then scoring a 6-0 win in the second game. The Rams have won four straight, with their only three losses to NCAA Division II squads West Georgia and Auburn-Montgomery, and LSU Alexandria.
Like SEU, Mobile has a strong pitching staff that has limited opponents to a .198 batting average against in 66 innings.
Southeastern will face Houston-Victoria, Central Methodist, and Avila during Friday's play at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
Houston-Victoria is receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll and is off to a 4-2 start with its two losses to defending national champion Science & Arts, and perennial contender Oklahoma City.
Ranked 18
th in the preseason poll, Central Methodist stands at 3-3 and have pushed across 41 runs, but have allowed 50.
Avila sits at 2-4 despite scoring 34 runs to start the year. Most recently, it was a 12-0 winner over Central Baptist, and also defeated one of SEU's Saturday opponents, Williams Baptist, 7-3.
Blue Mountain has been a program on the rise, having posted win totals of 22, 21, and 23 since a 6-31 mark in 2015. The Toppers are currently 4-2, having won three straight by a combined score of 22-2.
Faulkner advanced to the NAIA World Series last year and will face the Fire Saturday at 3 p.m. Central. The Eagles are 19
th in the preseason poll and have split their first four games of the season.
The trip closes with 2-2 Williams Baptist, which swept 2017 World Series participant Ottawa on Tuesday.
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