Softball Bested by Eagles in Game One of Ashland Bracket

ASHLAND, Ore.- The second-seeded Fire of Southeastern were unable to overcome a sluggish start in today's NAIA Opening Round contest against the three-seed, Reinhardt University, falling by a score of 6-4.
 
The contest appeared to be a pitcher's duel through the first two innings as both teams were held scoreless including five strikeouts from the Fire.
 
The Eagles broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third after three singles put them ahead by one run.
 
The tying run for the Fire was stranded at second in the bottom half of the inning after a groundout.
 
In the Eagles' next trip to the plate, the Fire deficit moved to three after two more singles scored on a one-out double into center field.
 
The Eagles did more damage in the top of the fifth after two walks scored on a double to the left field wall while a single through the left side one batter later moved the Eagles' lead to 5-0.
 
The late-game push by the Fire began in the bottom of the fifth after they scored two runs on four hits. A Nicole Wasserstrom leadoff single and Mallory Watts double shifted the momentum to the Fire's favor with the Fire's first run crossing in the form of a Lauren Sekinger RBI single to right center. Another RBI single by Jamie Mead brought home the second Fire run to move the deficit back to three.
 
One more insurance run for the Eagles came in the bottom of the seventh after a walk came around to score when the runner on second tagged up on a line drive into center and advanced after the throw bounced away from the Fire defenders.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Fire threatened with two runs on four hits and an error but stranded the bases loaded for the 6-4 loss.
 
Sekinger led off the inning with an infield single and was followed by a Cunningham single and walk to Erica Stahl to load the bases with one out. An error then allowed Cunningham to score. Another single by Haleigh Harrell loaded the bases again with two outs for Danielle Wasserstrom who lined a single into left field to bring the contest to 6-4. A diving catch by the left fielder on a hard-hit ball left the bases stranded and ended the threat.
 
Cunningham, Nicole Wasserstrom and Harrell ended the contest 2-4 with Claire Sekinger falling to 14-6 on the season after going 3.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits.
 
The Fire will next take on the top-seeded Raiders of Southern Oregon tomorrow in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.