AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Southeastern University softball team continued their success in Sun Conference play with a pair of convincing wins on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against Ave Maria University. The Fire never trailed in either contest, securing 6-1 and 12-3 (5 inn.) victories to extend their winning streak to six games.
In the opener, tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth, Kassidy Moore delivered a clutch two-out double to left, scoring Lauren Sekinger, who had reached on a single. Moore later came around on a Gyrenes error to give SEU a 3-1 lead. That was all the support Edan Playa needed, as the senior pitcher held Ave Maria scoreless over the final six innings, allowing just a single and a triple in her complete-game effort.
The Fire wasted no time in game two, scoring twice in the first inning before erupting for a seven-run third that all but sealed the game. Hailey Bradley highlighted the outburst with a two-run double, and Leah Gonzalez followed with a three-run double to push the lead to 9-0. Both teams traded three-run innings in the fourth, but the eight-run rule ended the contest in five.
With the sweep, SEU improved to 30-6 overall and 12-3 in Sun Conference play. Ave Maria dropped to 17-24-1 and 6-12 in the league.
Moore and Chapel Cunningham led the offensive charge with four hits apiece, two in each game. Cunningham reached safely with four singles, scored five times, drove in two, and swiped three bases. Moore added three singles and a double, with two runs scored and two RBI.
Bradley collected a double in each game and added a single, two runs scored, and two RBI. Ella Brooks turned in a strong performance with a double and single, two runs, three RBI, and three stolen bases. Gonzalez added a double, single, and four RBI, while Sekinger chipped in with two hits, one run, and two RBI.
Rylei McKinney and Maria Zelenka each contributed a hit, and both Mallory Watts and Katie Short scored as pinch runners.
Playa improved to 14-3 on the year with her complete-game win in game one, allowing just one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts. Emma Vickers got the nod in game two, moving to 3-0 after fanning three batters in the shortened contest.
The Fire will return to action on Friday, when they host New College of Florida in a three-game Sun Conference series, with a single game that day followed by a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m.
