LAKELAND, Fla.—A six-run fourth inning helped the Fire end the first game of the doubleheader against St. Ambrose early, and two runs in the sixth in the second helped the Fire overcome an early deficit to sweep the day.
The Fire improved to 21-10 on the season with an 8-0 win in five innings in the first game and a 2-1 win in the second game.
Southeastern struck quick in the first game, taking a 1-0 lead on the second at bat of the game when
Chapel Cunningham's single up the middle brought home
Riley Sanders. Cunningham scored on a two-out throwing error to give the Fire a two-run advantage.
In the fourth, the Fire loaded the bases and got RBI singles from Sanders, Cunningham, and
Leah Gonzalez to go up 5-0, then walks to
Nicole Wasserstrom and
Raylei McKinney pushed the lead to seven.
Hailey Brooks singled to left to give the Fire an eight-run advantage to invoke the run rule.
Claire Sekinger earned the win, throwing five shutout innings with six strikeouts. The junior allowed just three hits and two walks.
Cunningham was 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Sanders was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.
The Bees (11-13) turned a leadoff walk in the third inning into a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.
Southeastern had a hit in each of their first five innings, but failed to score due largely to some key defensive plays by St. Ambrose. The Bees turned a double play to end the first, then turned one to end the third on a diving catch on a popped up bunt with a runner on third, and turned one in the fifth after
Lauren Sekinger reached on an error to lead off the inning.
McKinney's double off the center fielder's glove brought home Cunningham in the sixth to tie the game, then scored on a misplayed ball to first base for the game winning run.
Cunningham, Brooks, and
Ella Brooks all had two hits each.
Edan Playa earned her eighth win of the season by throwing two shutout innings in relief of
Maria Zelenka, who allowed just one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk over five innings of work.
Southeastern returns to Sun Conference play on Friday at Florida Memorial.
