Defensive Miscues in Game One and Cold Offense in Game Two Hands Fire NAIA Top 5 Losses

LAKELAND, Fla.- Southeastern softball came out on the losing end of an NAIA Top 5 matchup today, dropping both contests at home to No. 2 ranked Mobile University by scores of 3-2 and 3-0 in extra innings.
 
Defensive miscues in game one played a large role in the Fire's one-run loss as the home team would post two errors, opening the door for the World Series Runner-Up. Both teams would be held scoreless until the fourth inning when the Rams exploited the Fire defense with an RBI bunt single. Lexi Lanham would then follow with a single up the middle to score the Rams' second run while a Fire error allowed the third run to cross.
 
Freshman Mallory Watts did her part to keep her team in the contest after blasting a two-strike, two-out, two-run double into left field to bring the score to 3-2. Those two runs would be all the Fire could scrape up as they would drop the first contest.
 
Watts would conclude the contest 2-3 while Jamie Mead, Leah Gonzalez, Erica Stahl, and Lauren Sekinger would each record a hit. Claire Sekinger would fall to 1-1 after allowing three earned runs on eight hits through seven innings of work.
 
Game two would see a competitive pitcher's dual between Autumn Hunter and NAIA All-American Brinkley Goff that held both teams scoreless through seven innings. Hunter allowed just one hit through seven innings before giving up three runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. Goff would complete the eight-inning shutout while allowing just three hits.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Rams would start with a runner on second per extra-inning rules, but a passed ball moved the runner one base away. The Rams' second hit of the contest would be a shallow fly ball into left field that scored the first run of the contest. Another single by the Rams would put two-on for Caitlyn McRee would lined a two-run double into the left-center gap for the 3-0 lead.
 
A popout, strikeout, and groundout would give the No. 4 ranked Fire their fourth consecutive loss as they now hold a 2-4 record.
 
Southeastern will look to bounce back with a doubleheader against No. 11 ranked Grand View on Saturday at 1 & 3 p.m.