LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.—Southeastern was one out away from playing for a trip to the NAIA Softball World Series.
After defeating fifth-seeded Spring Arbor 4-0, the Fire dropped a 3-2 contest to top-seeded Eastern Oregon to end the season with a 40-19 record.
Senior pitcher
Claire Sekinger spun a gem in the Spring Arbor game, going the distance with nine strikeouts and no walks for her 11
th win of the season. Sekinger did not allow a run on four hits and needed 97 pitches to complete the game.
The Fire scored in the second on a bases-loaded hit by pitch to
Ella Brooks. In the fourth, the Fire scored on an RBI single by
Riley Sanders, then added two more on a two-out, two-run double down the left field line by
Raylei McKinney.
McKinney and
Hailey Brooks had two hits each.
In the final elimination game of the Lawrenceville Bracket, the Fire trailed 1-0 after two innings after a two-out RBI single down the left field line. The Fire answered in the next half inning when
Riley Sanders reached on a throwing error which allowed
Lauren Sekinger to score.
Southeastern had the bases loaded in the sixth with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat. The Fire loaded the bases again in the seventh and got a go-ahead RBI single from Sanders to left field to take a 2-1 lead.
Sanders was 2-for-4 in the contest.
The Mountaineers tied the game on a two-out throwing error, then ended the game with an RBI single up the middle.
Autumn Hunter allowed one earned run on eight hits over 6.2 innings of work with three strikeouts.
