LAKELAND, Fla.- After a busy 4-2 week, the No. 19 ranked Southeastern University softball team will head into a calmer week with a weekend Sun Conference series against Warner University on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.
Last week, the Fire dropped two of three to No. 10 ranked College of Coastal Georgia by scores of 6-5 and 8-4 but bounced back with a series sweep of Florida Memorial to advance to 28-7 and 12-3 in Sun Conference play, tying the Mariners for the top spot in the conference.
The Royals come into the weekend contest with a 19-15 overall record and 7-5 conference record, placing them fourth in the Sun Conference standings. Collectively, the Royals average four runs per contest behind a .266 batting average. Senior Ashton Owen has led the way thus far offensively with a team best .342 average and .613 slugging percentage off of seven doubles, a triple, and seven home runs while also leading the team in RBI's with 21.
On the other side, junior Madalyn Morton has collected the most innings on the mound for the Royals at 82.1 and has posted a 2.55 ERA, 5-5 record, and an average of 6.3 strikeouts per game. The Royals also return Tiffany Dodson who carried the Royals pitching staff last season and has collected 72.1 innings this season and an ERA of 2.52.
The Fire have proven depth in each area of the game as they come into the new week ranked third in the nation in stolen bases with 126 and shutouts with 13. Offensively, the Fire post 6.3 runs per game with an average of .335 and slugging percentage of .464 with 18 home runs. Graduate transfer
Jamie Mead has seen the most success at the plate with a team high .406 average and .521 on base percentage. Senior
Katie Atkins has been the leading run producer with 35 RBI's behind a .360 average, 12 doubles, and five home runs.
Freshman
Claire Sekinger leads the Fire pitching staff in every category as she has collected an 11-2 record, 1.32 ERA, and an average of seven strikeouts per seven innings. Sophomore
Autumn Hunter has also been effective on the mound recording a 2.21 ERA through 74 innings and a record of 10-3.
History between the Fire and the Royals tilts slightly in favor of the Fire with a 14-12 overall record as the teams went an even 2-2 against each other last season, each taking one game from the other on the road.
To purchase tickets to the weekend SUN series, go to https://southeastern.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx?cid=179.
