LAKELAND, Fla.- Southeastern softball will begin their week at the Ashland Opening Round Bracket in Ashland, Ore. today as they take on third-seeded Reinhardt University at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The Fire earned an at-large bid into the Ashland Bracket after finishing as the runner-up in the Sun Conference Tournament to No. 18 College of Coastal Georgia.
Chapel Cunningham,
Erica Stahl,
Danielle Wasserstrom, and
Autumn Hunter each were named to the All-Tournament team for their performance, led by a .438 average (7-16) by Cunningham. The sophomore also had two RBI's and three stolen bases in the tournament. Stahl posted a .750 slugging percentage and .417 average after a 5-12 weekend with two doubles, a triple, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Wasserstrom hit .364 during the tournament, going 4-11 with two doubles.
On the mound, Hunter posted a 0.54 ERA after allowing just one earned run through 13 innings, going 2-0 with two complete games and holding her opponents to a .125 average.
The Fire offense currently holds a .303 average with 4.6 runs per game while the pitching staff holds a collective 2.16 ERA.
Claire Sekinger has struck out 154 batters through 153 innings for a 2.29 ERA while
Kenzie Forrester holds a 2.57 ERA through 60 innings.
The Eagles of Reinhardt will be making their seventh national tournament appearance with a 35-11 overall record and an at-large bid after dropping the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Championship to Tennessee Wesleyan 5-4.
Collectively, the offense has posted a .335 average and .455 slugging percentage, averaging 5.7 runs per contest. Emily Loveless captains the offense with a .431 average, 59 hits, 14 doubles, and eight home runs, recording 48 RBI's on the season and a .737 slugging percentage. Loveless has also drawn 24 walks and stolen 10 bases. Alexis Griffith leads the Eagles in stolen bases with 26 and comes in at second on the team in hits with 48.
The pitching staff holds a collective 2.02 ERA, largely bolstered by Whitney Shepherd's 1.45 ERA through a staff-high 135.1 innings. Shepherd holds a 17-4 overall record with 16 complete games and 78 strikeouts.
The Eagles hold a historical 3-1 record over the Fire with their last matchup coming in 2020 where the Fire took the 6-3 win in Columbus, Ga.
With a win, the Fire will take on the winner of No. 1 Southern Oregon and No. 4 Vanguard on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
