Fire Complete Hard-Fought Series Win Against No. 21 Mariners

LAKELAND, Fla.- Southeastern claimed sole possession of first place in the Sun Conference today after claiming the series against No. 21 ranked College of Coastal Georgia with a 5-4 loss and 6-1 win in today's doubleheader.
 
After yesterday's 1-0 victory, the No. 16 ranked Fire (25-10, 13-2) dropped the second game of the series by a score of 5-4 after a three-run home run by the Mariners and three Fire errors.
 
In the bottom of the second, Haleigh Harrell drew a lead-off walk and would come around for the first run of the contest off a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Wasserstrom and three consecutive singles. A Lauren Sekinger single into right field scored Harrell to take a one run-lead. One batter later Chapel Cunningham drew a bases-loaded walk after a hard-fought at bat for a 2-0 Fire lead.
 
The Fire lead doubled in the bottom of the fourth after another Sekinger single and Jamie Mead walk set up a two-run double by Erica Stahl.
 
The top of the fifth saw the scales tip in favor of the Mariners after a one-out double and single up the middle brought up Bryce Peacock. Peacock took a 2-0 pitch and lined it over the left field wall for three RBI's, cutting the deficit to 4-3. An error, single, and walk loaded the bases, allowing a single into left center to tie the contest. The next batter reached on another Fire error, scoring the go-ahead run.
 
Southeastern stranded four runners on base through their next three offensive innings to finalize the Mariners' 5-4 win.
 
Autumn Hunter fell to 9-5 on the season after going 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs, all off one swing.
 
Kenzie Forrester went 2.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits and one earned run.
 
Stahl ended game one 2-4 with two RBI's while Sekinger also went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored.
 
The Fire offense came alive with six runs on 12 hits in the series finale with Claire Sekinger moving to 14-2 after tossing a complete game with one run on six hits and three strikeouts.
 
Stahl collected her third RBI of the day in the bottom of the first, scoring Cunningham on a single into center field after Cunningham singled and stole second to start the inning.
 
Five hits in the bottom of the third added three more runs after Leah Gonzalez singled up the middle, scoring Stahl and Mead for a 3-0 lead. Karah Schultz then picked up an RBI with a double off the left field wall that scored Gonzalez.
 
The lone run for the Mariners came in the top of the fourth when the SUN's home run leader, Aniston Johnson sent a solo shot over the center field wall.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Sekinger opened the inning with a double to left center, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored off a squeeze by Mead.
 
The final run of the weekend came in the sixth when a Mead double scored Cunningham after a single and stolen base, securing the series win over the Mariners with a 6-1 victory.
 
Five different Fire hitters ended game two with multiple hits with Mead and Gonzalez both tallying two RBI's.
 
Southeastern will next face Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Fla. next weekend on Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m.