WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The Southeastern University softball team couldn't cash in with runners in scoring position in both games they played at the Diamondplex softball complex in Winter Haven, Fla., leaving six on base against Roosevelt University in a 2-1 loss, and 12 on base in the 10-5 loss to No. 15 Olivet Nazarene.
GAME ONE: The Fire struck first in this one, when junior
Lauren Watters ripped one up the middle for a base hit that drove in
Sam Holcomb. Watters had a good day at the plate in both games, combining to go 2-for-5 with two RBI's. Sophomore
Peyton Varela kept the Roosevelt Lakers at bay throughout, except for a two-run third inning that proved to be too many for the Fire to overcome. Varela pitched six innings and only gave up five hits for two earned runs, and struck out one batter in the process. Varela also went 1-for-2 with the bat and walked once.
Southeastern had a chance to make some noise in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. However, the Fire couldn't push any across as they struck out to end the game.
GAME TWO: Freshman Megan Froelich got the nod for the final game of the RussMatt tournament but struggled against No. 15 Olivet Nazarene. She gave up five earned runs on four hits, including a two-run home run. The Fire bats came alive in their half of the first, answering with four runs of their own. Holcomb got it started with a solo blast over the left center field wall, her second of the year. Freshman
Erica Stahl kept it going with a sac fly to center that plated
Kaley Sarasty. Watters swatted a single to left that scored
Bailee Moll, and she crossed the plate on a double from Whitney Purdy.
Freshman
Kristyn Dexter stabilized things for the Fire, holding Olivet to two runs through four innings of work, but found trouble in her fifth inning of relief. Dexter gave up three runs, two coming off a two-run homer over left-center field. Dexter allowed five through 4.2 innings of work, striking out four and only allowed one walk.
Southeastern got a rally going in the bottom of the inning, as Olivet walked in a run but Southeastern couldn't push anymore across the plate.
Holcomb went 4-for-9 on the day, driving in one run. Moll had a productive day, going 3-for-4 with two walks and hit-by-pitch, and Purdy went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three walks.
Southeastern takes the field again on Tuesday, February 18
th when they host Trinity Baptist College in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.
