LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 19 Southeastern will spend the weekend in Hattiesburg, Miss., for a pair of doubleheaders hosted by William Carey at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field. The Fire open play Friday afternoon against Faulkner before returning Saturday for a matchup against William Carey.
Schedule
- Friday, February 20 – 4 p.m. EST – vs. Faulkner (DH)
- Saturday, February 21 – 1 p.m. EST – at William Carey (DH)
Both days hosted by William Carey at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field in Hattiesburg, Miss.
How to Follow
All games will be streamed on the Urban Edge Network app, available on Smart TV and mobile devices, as well as online at UrbanEdgeNetwork.net. Live statistics will be available at SEUFire.com.
Fire 5 – Five Quick Hits on No. 19 Southeastern
- Elite in the Circle
SEU leads the Sun Conference with a 0.94 team ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. Opponents are hitting just .190 against the Fire, and the staff has already posted four shutouts in eight games.
- Zelenka Missing Bats
Maria Zelenka ranks among the conference leaders with an 11.39 strikeouts per seven innings average and a 0.36 ERA. She punched out 10 in a win over Abraham Baldwin and has allowed just one earned run this season.
- Brooks & Sekinger Setting the Tone
Ella Brooks (.565 AVG) and Lauren Sekinger (.542 AVG) both rank among the Sun Conference leaders in batting average. Brooks also owns a .630 on-base percentage and is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases.
- McKinney Driving It In
Raylei McKinney leads the conference with 11 RBIs and is hitting .520 with a team-best .840 slugging percentage. She already has five doubles and a home run through eight games.
- When the Fire Strike First…
Southeastern is 6–0 when scoring in the first inning and 7–0 when out-hitting its opponent. The Fire are also 6–0 in games decided by five or more runs, showing the ability to separate quickly.
About the Fire
Southeastern enters the weekend with a 7–1 overall record and a .875 winning percentage. The Fire will be competing in their first true road and neutral-site games of the 2026 season.
Offensively, SEU has been among the most productive teams in the NAIA through the first few weeks of the season. The Fire are batting .384 as a team with a .466 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage. SEU has totaled 76 hits, including 13 doubles and five home runs, while scoring 56 runs across eight games. Nationally, the Fire rank inside the top 30 in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, and home runs.
In the circle, Southeastern has been equally effective. The Fire own a 0.94 team ERA with a 0.87 WHIP and 47 strikeouts over 52.0 innings. Opponents are hitting just .190 against SEU pitching. The staff currently ranks fourth nationally in ERA and second in WHIP, underscoring the balance between offense and pitching.
At the Plate
Ella Brooks has set the tone at the top of the order, leading the team with a .565 batting average through eight games. She has collected 13 hits in 23 at-bats, including three doubles and a home run, while scoring 12 runs and driving in eight. Brooks also carries a .630 on-base percentage and is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
Lauren Sekinger has been equally consistent, batting .542 with 13 hits and five RBIs. She has struck out just once and owns a .593 on-base percentage, serving as a steady presence in the lineup.
Raylei McKinney provides power production, hitting .520 with five doubles and a home run while driving in a team-high 11 RBIs. Her .840 slugging percentage reflects her ability to generate extra-base hits.
Hailey Bradley (.421) and
Ava Planeta (.455) have also contributed to the Fire's depth. Bradley has scored eight runs and posted a .542 on-base percentage, while Planeta has added five hits and four RBIs in limited appearances. Multiple players are hitting above .300, giving Southeastern consistent production throughout the lineup.
In the Circle
Maria Zelenka has anchored the staff with a 3–1 record and a 0.36 ERA over 19.2 innings. She has allowed just one earned run while striking out 32 batters, demonstrating swing-and-miss ability early in the season.
Edan Playa has been equally effective, posting a 4–0 record with a 0.65 ERA across 21.2 innings. She has surrendered just seven hits and two earned runs while holding opponents to a .097 batting average.
Emma Vickers and
Elana Roush have also provided valuable depth in the circle early this season. Vickers has made three appearances, including one start, and holds a 1.83 ERA across 7.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs while limiting opponents to a .167 batting average. Roush has appeared twice in relief, working 3.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Series History
Southeastern has had limited but successful history against Faulkner, holding a 3–0 all-time record with all three wins coming at neutral sites. The Fire have won each meeting by narrow margins, including 3–2 victories in 2019 and 2021 before a 9–7 win in 2024. SEU enters this weekend riding a three-game winning streak in the series. Against William Carey, the Fire are 4–6 all-time, including a 1–3 mark at home and a 3–3 record in neutral-site contests. After dropping several early matchups in the series, Southeastern has won the last three meetings, including victories in 2022 and 2023, and will look to extend that streak on the road Saturday.
Looking Ahead
Following the weekend in Hattiesburg, Southeastern will return home to open Sun Conference play against Ave Maria on February 27–28 at the SEU Softball Field. The Fire will host a single game Friday at 3 p.m. before closing the series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.
