WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Fire took the lead early on Tuesday and never looked back. Southeastern University plated two first-inning runs and Maria Zelenka did the rest in the circle to clip Keiser University, 3-1, in the series opener today.
After Chapel Cunningham reached on an error to start the game and Ella Brooks followed with a single, Leah Gonzalez drove in one with a single to right field and Raylei McKinney the other on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 Fire lead. Zelenka retired the Keiser hitters in order four times and allowed only a fifth-inning unearned run the rest of the way.
The Fire recorded five hits in the game, with Lauren Sekinger leading the way with a 2-for-3 effort. Chloe Baker touched home plate after she pinch ran and Alley Haas lofted an RBI sac fly.
Zelenka improved to 11-2 with the win. She scattered five hits and struck out two. She retired 12-straight Seahawks from the last out of the first through the first two outs of the fifth.
Keiser took advantage of a two-out SEU error and followed it with two singles to cut their deficit in half, 2-1.
Sekinger led off the top of the seventh with a single and Baker entered as a pinch runner. Kassidy Moore drew a walk before Nicole Wasserstrom laid down a sac bunt and Haas added the insurance run with a sac fly to make the lead 3-1. Zelenka set down Keiser in order in the seventh, ending the day.
With the victory, SEU improves to 23-5 (5-2 SUN), while Keiser drops to 24-10 (7-3 SUN).
The two teams wrap up the series with a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader. Game one begins at 1 p.m.
