LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University continued their hot streak on Saturday, earning a Sun Conference series sweep over New College of Florida with an 8-0 run-rule win in six innings and a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. The Fire have now recorded double-digit shutouts on the season and pushed their winning streak to nine games.
Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth in game one, Ella Brooks delivered an RBI single before Leah Gonzalez followed with her eighth home run of the season—a three-run blast to left that broke the game open. Edan Playa took it from there, pitching a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits and striking out three. Katie Short sealed the win in the sixth with a walk-off RBI single up the middle.
In game two, tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Fire responded quickly. With two outs, Brooks singled, stole second, and scored on a go-ahead RBI single from Gonzalez. Despite a three-hit inning in the sixth, the Banyans were unable to answer, as Southeastern held on for the one-run win.
Raylei McKinney led the offense, going 4-for-7 on the day with a double, a single in each game, a run scored, and two stolen bases. Gonzalez made her two hits count, collecting a three-run homer, an RBI single, two runs scored, and five RBI total.
Brooks added three singles, four runs scored, an RBI, and three stolen bases. Kassidy Moore chipped in with a double and a single, while Chapel Cunningham recorded two hits, two runs, and four stolen bases. Lauren Sekinger and Katie Short each drove in two runs. Mallory Watts, Nicole Wasserstrom, and Hailey Bradley also contributed base hits.
Playa improved to 15-3 with her fourth shutout of the season, pitching all six innings in Game 1. Emma Vickers moved to 4-0 with 5.2 innings of work in game two, and Maria Zelenka earned the save with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
With the sweep, SEU improved to 33-6 overall and 15-3 in Sun Conference play. The Fire have now swept three consecutive conference series with two remaining in the regular season.
Up Next
Southeastern returns to action Thursday evening, April 17, with a 6 p.m. first pitch at St. Thomas University to begin the next Sun Conference series.