LAKELAND, Fla.—In their season-opening doubleheader the Southeastern University softball team swept the Florida National Conquistadors.
An explosive eight-run first inning led to a 12-5 victory in the first game while it took extra innings to take the second game, 5-4.
Head coach
Kayla Watkins talked about what she saw from her team today, "We played balanced softball today, fun softball to watch. We hit the ball well, we executed, we ran the bases well and pitched well… It was really fun to see our fight and response even in the midst of adversity."
GAME ONE:
Florida National wasted no time getting their season started as they plated five runs in the top of the first. Southeastern responded with eight runs in their half of the inning thanks to a two-run home run from graduate infielder
Sam Holcomb, and a grand slam from
Madison Williams.
Freshman pitcher
Autumn Hunter responded well after a rough start to her collegiate debut. After giving up five runs in the first, the freshman threw six shutout innings while striking out six batters and gave up only three more hits.
Hunter talked about what led to her bounce back performance, "I had no doubt that my teammates had my back not only offensively, but defensively. We made no errors that first game and the girls really lit it up with the bat and I knew they had my back the whole way."
Six different players registered a hit for the Fire in game one, with four recording at least one RBI. In addition to Williams and Holcomb,
Haleigh Harrell and
Kaley Sarasty drove in two runs while
Ramsey Sullivan knocked in one.
GAME TWO:
The second game looked much different as neither team scored more than one run in an inning.
Sophomore pitcher
Megan Froehlich kept FNU at bay throughout, allowing only three earned runs and recorded four strikeouts.
The Fire took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run by
Katie Atkins, who went three-for-three in game two.
Florida National tied it with a single in the seventh inning and the Fire couldn't push any across to avoid going to extras.
After both teams scored a run in their halves of the eighth, Hunter returned to the circle to shut down any FNU threat as she didn't allow a baserunner in her 1.2 relief innings of work.
A sacrifice bunt moved fifth-year senior
Hannah Bonner to third base, and she scored the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to an error by the Conquistadors.
The Fire (2-0) return to action tomorrow with another doubleheader against Florida National scheduled to start at 1:00 pm.
