Late Offensive Surge Lifts Softball over Wolverines in Game One of Opening Round

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.- In game one of the NAIA Opening Round, the top-seeded Southeastern University Fire completed an 8-2 comeback victory of the fourth-seeded University of Michigan-Dearborn after a five-run sixth inning.
 
The Wolverines jumped out ahead in the top of the first after two unearned runs on two hits and an error and maintained the 2-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth when Katie Atkins drew a leadoff hit-by-pitch and came around to score off an RBI single up the middle by Alex Hilton.
 
The Fire's one-run deficit quickly disappeared in the bottom of the fifth when Atkins doubled into right field, scoring Haleigh Harrell and Jamie Mead and giving the Fire the 3-2 lead.
 
The offense went on to explode for five runs off of five hits in the sixth with RBI singles by Mead, Harrell, and Chapel Cunningham to take the 8-2 lead and eventual victory.
 
Freshman Claire Sekinger advanced her season record to 21-4 after going a complete game and allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out nine Wolverine batters.
 
Offensively, Cunningham led the way for the Fire going 3-4 with an RBI with Erica Stahl and Madison Williams both collecting multiple hits.
 
SEU will next face the No. 3 seed, Saint Xavier, tomorrow at 12 p.m.