LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Fire opened the Sun Conference play just like they wanted. Southeastern University used a big six-run seventh and sealed the series opener, 9-1, over rival Warner University on Friday afternoon.
SEU pushed single runs across home plate in each of the first, second and fourth innings for a 3-0 lead. Leading 3-1 heading to the seventh, the Fire offense produced six hits with Hailey Bradley, Raylei McKinney, and Leah Gonzalez providing RBI singles for a 9-1 score. Edan Playa was strong in the circle, where she scattered nine hits without an earned run and struck out three.
With the win, SEU (19-3) opens the Sun Conference slate at 1-0, while Warner fell to 8-10 overall and 1-3 in the Sun Conference.
Leading the 16-hit attack, Ella Brooks, Gonzalez and Bradley each combined for nine of them. Brooks had the big blast of a solo home run to go with two singles, two runs and two RBI (one from a bases-loaded free pass).
Gonzalez doubled and singled two times with an RBI, while Bradley had three hits, one run and two RBI.
Chapel Cunningham, Maria Zelenka and Lauren Sekinger posted a pair of singles apiece – Cunningham and Zelenka scored once, while Sekinger crossed home twice. McKinney finished with a team-high three RBI, including a sac fly.
Warner avoided the shutout with an unearned run in the home fourth.
SEU and Warner complete the 3-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
