LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire threatened all day, but got all they needed in thr fourth. For the eighth time this season, Southeastern University posted a shutout as they blanked Webber International, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game series today.
With no score after three and a half innings, Nicole Wasserstrom drew a lead off walk, moved to second on Hailey Bradley's sac bunt and made her way to third when Chapel Cunningham singled to left center. Ella Brooks followed with her own single to the same part of the field in left center and brought Wasserstrom for what would be the game's only run of the day. Maria Zelenka kept her pitching mastery going and caught the game-ending line drive in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded.
Zelenka improved to 12-3 and shrunk her ERA to 1.31 over 96 innings of work. The Fire pitcher recorded her ninth complete game of the year giving up seven hits and two walks while fanning seven.
At the plate, Leah Gonzalez singled and doubled in three at bats. Wasserstrom singled and scored along with drawing a pair of walks. Bradley, Cunningham and Brooks, who drove in the game-winning run, rounded out the offense with a single apiece.
With two out in the home first, Erica Ramsey walked and raced to third on a Gonzalez double. Raylei McKinney walked to load the bases, but the Warriors retired the third out on the next home hitter.
SEU loaded the bases again in the second with Wasserstrom starting it with a single followed by a walk and an error, before Webber International recorded the final two outs.
Leading 1-0 in the home sixth, the Fire filled the bags a third time in the game after a Wasserstrom walk, Bradley bunt single, and a Ramsey fielder's choice. But the Warriors escaped again to keep the game within reach.
The Warriors led off the seventh with a single before a walk and a second single loaded the bases with one out. Zelenka enticed a grounder to second where Kassidy Moore threw home for the force out. Zelenka ended the game by snagging a liner back for the final out.
With the win, the Fire improved to 25-6 (7-3 SUN), earning their sixth shut out of the spring. The Warriors fell to 13-19 (4-6 SUN).
SEU and Webber complete their three-game series on Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is at 1 p.m.
