Zelenka Fans 13 as No. 19 Fire Blank William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – No. 19 Southeastern rode a dominant performance in the circle from Maria Zelenka to a 5–0 victory over William Carey on Saturday at Fail Field. Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was canceled due to weather.

With the win, Southeastern moved to 9-2 on the season, while William Carey also sits at 9-2.

Zelenka was in control from the outset, tossing a complete-game shutout and striking out 13 over seven innings. The junior allowed just three hits and three walks across 147 pitches, recording 13 of William Carey's 21 outs by strikeout. The 13 punchouts are tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first five innings as Zelenka and William Carey starter Jayden Sawyer matched zeroes. Zelenka worked around early traffic, stranding runners in scoring position in both the first and third innings, while striking out multiple batters in four separate frames.

The breakthrough came in the top of the sixth.

Lauren Sekinger opened the inning with a single and Raylei McKinney followed after being hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Abby Franey reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Erica Ramsey drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run of the game, and Jaidyn Fuller followed with another walk to make it 2–0.

Ella Brooks then delivered the decisive swing, lining a single to right field that brought home two more runs and pushed the lead to 4–0.

Southeastern added an insurance run in the seventh. Sekinger worked a walk and McKinney doubled to left to put two in scoring position. Zelenka helped her own cause with a sacrifice fly to plate Sekinger and extend the advantage to 5–0.

Brooks finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks, while Sekinger reached base three times and McKinney added a double and a stolen base. The Fire scored five runs on four hits, drawing six walks and capitalizing on timely opportunities.

Zelenka closed the door in the seventh, inducing a groundout and two more outs to secure her fifth win of the season.

Southeastern will return home next weekend to open Sun Conference play against Ave Maria. The three-game series begins Friday, February 27 at 3 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader on February 28 at 12 p.m. at the SEU Softball Field in Lakeland.