THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Fire bounced back from a tough loss with an impressive day. Southeastern University not only blanked No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett for its first win of the day, 9-0, but did it a second time, 1-0 in extra innings, in softball action today.
Raylei McKinney and Leah Gonzalez combined for a 6-for-6 game with six RBI for the SEU offense in the opener. McKinney blasted a one-out homer in the third and added a two-run single up the middle in the fourth, while Gonzalez laced a two-run double after her for the 9-0 lead. Maria Zelenka finished the Grizzlies in the top of the fifth and completed the two-hit shutout.
After seven scoreless frames in the late game, Chloe Baker started on second in the eighth. Kassidy Moore sacrificed her to third and Zelenka lofted a sac fly to center for the SEU run. Edan Playa retired Gwinnett in order in the home eighth, completing the second SEU shutout of the day, 1-0.
The Fire (6-1) notched a few notables today. SEU secured its first win in the series with the Grizzlies (7-2), as well as their first victory over a top ten opponent since 2023. The two Fire shutouts made three for the season of the team's six wins.
SEU also had not put a run on the scoreboard in any of its last three meetings against Gwinnett. The Grizzlies took the last matchup in the NAIA Opening Round, 4-0, last May in Lawrenceville, Ga.
Zelenka (3-1) gave up only two hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five-inning game one win. She also went 1-for-2 with a run and a double in that game and added the game winning sac fly in game two.
Playa stayed perfect at 3-0 as she held the Grizzlies offense to only three singles and a double, while striking out seven.
In their 12 innings at the plate, SEU registered 11 hits. McKinley and Gonzalez accounted for over half with the three hits apiece. Chapel Cunningham went 2-for-3 in the first game with three runs, an RBI, and a steal. She added a stolen base in game two as well.
Moore, Zelenka and Hailey Bradley had the other three hits, with each scoring a run as well.
The Fire return to action next Thursday in a doubleheader against Mt. Vernon Nazarene in Winter Haven. The first game starts at 4 p.m.
