LAKELAND, Fla. – After splitting two conference doubleheaders last week against Coastal Georgia and USCB, the Southeastern University softball team is set for two more this week. The Fire (24-15, 6-8 TSC) travel to Ave Maria on Wednesday before taking Thomas University in Thomasville this Saturday.
SEU took the first game against Coastal Georgia 3-2 after
Erica Stahl hit a walk-off RBI single that scored
Britt Robinson. Stahl was a productive bat in the Fire lineup all week, going 6-for-13 with two runs scored and stole two bases.
The Fire then shutout USCB in game two of their doubleheader on Saturday behind
Megan Froehlich's 6.1 shutout innings where she allowed just five hits, one walk, and recorded one strikeout.
Autumn Hunter picked up her fifth save of the season after recording the final two outs.
Hunter had a busy week in the circle as she tossed 17 innings, allowing just three runs with eight strikeouts. Her five saves rank second in the NAIA and she also is ranked 17
th with 12 wins on the season.
As a team, the Fire have stolen 66 bases this season, the 16
th most in the NAIA.
Madison Williams and
Sam Holcomb lead the team with 26 and 25 stolen bases, respectively. Williams also holds the team lead with 47 hits while Holcomb has a team-high 17 walks.
Southeastern remains one of the top defensive teams in the nation with 801 putouts and 342 assists, ranking them third and fourth in the NAIA.
Ave Maria enters this week with a 16-14 record including 4-10 against conference opponents. The Gyrenes are looking to get back in the win column, dropping their last five contests. Ave Maria leads the NAIA several stolen base categories with 106 total stolen bases and 3.5 stolen bases per game. Kalie Romig is the NAIA leader with 42 stolen bases. The Gyrenes have four players hitting .390 or better with Miriam Padgett hitting .412, Angela Cataldo at .398, Paxton Hoop with a .397 average and Romig hitting .396.
SEU is 15-5 all-time against AMU and won their last matchup on April 27, 2019 by a score of 7-5. Holcomb and
Hannah Bonner combined to go 5-for-8 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Thomas carries an even 14-14 record into play this week with a 5-9 mark when facing TSC opponents. The Night Hawks, who visit Coastal Georgia before hosting the Fire on Saturday, are led by freshman Averie Sheppard who is hitting .361 with 12 stolen bases on the season. Senior pitcher Rebecca Boesen has a team-low 1.57 ERA through 75.2 innings pitched with 69 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Southeastern is 18-8 against TU in their all-time series with Thomas taking the most recent matchup 2-0 on March 30, 2019. Boesen got the win for Thomas after tossing eight shutout innings.
To follow all the action this week, follow @SEUFireSoftball on twitter!
