LAKELAND, Fla.—A pair of dominant performances in the pitching circle combined with some timely hitting helped Southeastern sweep a doubleheader on Thursday against Cleary.
The Fire took the first game 5-0 behind a complete game shutout from
Edan Playa and took the second game in five innings by the count of 12-0 with a complete game shutout from
Maria Zelenka.
Southeastern is now 15-7 on the season and have won their last six contests.
At the plate,
Leah Gonzalez came through with a two-out RBI single in the first and another in the fifth to give the Fire their first two runs of the game.
Hailey Brooks drove in two more in the sixth and then scored on a misplayed ball in left field.
That was more than enough run support for Playa who earned her team-leading sixth win of the season, allowing just three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Ella Brooks finished 3-for-4 on the day with a pair of runs scored.
Kaitlyn Quillen joined Gonzalez with two hits including a double.
In the second game, Zelenka retired the first nine she faced en route to her first collegiate win. The freshman registered six strikeouts and allowed just two hits.
The Fire led 3-0 before Cleary got its first hit of the game. Gonzalez doubled to right in the first, and
Hailey Brooks added a sacrifice fly in the second along with a bases-loaded walk to
Lauren Sekinger.
In the third, the Fire erupted for eight runs on 10 hits to put the game away.
Danielle Wasserstrom's single to right scored
Raylei McKinney, then a throwing error brought
Nicole Wasserstrom home on a single by
Hailey Brooks. A bunt single by
Chapel Cunningham scored
Danielle Wasserstrom, and two more scored on a single to right by Sekinger to make it 8-0.
McKinney then drove in
Ella Brooks with a single to center field, then Sekinger scored on a throwing error when McKinney stole second.
Nicole Wasserstrom scored McKinney with a single up the middle.
In the fourth,
Chloe Baker scored on a wild pitch.
Sekinger's three RBIs were the most in a game by a Southeastern player this season. Five different players finished the second game with two hits.
The team will finish their six-game week with a doubleheader Friday afternoon against Calumet at 1 p.m.
