LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 19 Southeastern completed a dominant Friday doubleheader sweep of Ave Maria, earning 8-0 and 15-0 run-rule victories at the SEU Softball Field to finish off the Sun Conference opening series.
The Fire improved to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play, allowing no runs and just two total hits while sweeping the three-game series.
Game 1 — Southeastern 8, Ave Maria 0 (5 innings)
Southeastern secured the series victory in the opener behind efficient pitching and a balanced offensive attack.
The Fire broke the game open in the second inning, sending nine hitters to the plate and scoring four runs.
Chloe Baker started the scoring with an RBI single before
Ella Brooks delivered a two-run double to left field.
Abby Franey followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.
Southeastern added two more runs in the third before ending the game in the fifth inning. Franey drove in a run with a double, and
Lauren Sekinger followed with an RBI single to right-center to secure the run-rule victory.
In the circle, left-hander
Edan Playa limited Ave Maria to just one hit across four scoreless innings while striking out three and facing only one batter over the minimum.
Emma Vickers worked a clean fifth inning to complete the combined shutout.
The Fire finished with 13 hits in the opener and did not strike out offensively. Brooks and Franey each recorded two RBIs, while
Erica Ramsey and
Hailey Bradley added multi-hit performances.
Game 2 — Southeastern 15, Ave Maria 0 (5 innings)
Southeastern carried the momentum into the nightcap, completing the sweep with another run-rule victory.
Maria Zelenka led the effort in the circle and reached a career milestone during the win, recording the 200th strikeout of her collegiate career while tossing four scoreless innings. Zelenka allowed just one hit and struck out three before
Elana Roush closed the game with a scoreless fifth inning.
Offensively, the Fire took control early when
Lauren Sekinger drove home
Ella Brooks in the first inning. A four-run second inning pushed the lead to 5-0, highlighted by a two-run single from Brooks and a two-RBI hit from
Raylei McKinney.
After adding another run in the third, Southeastern erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning. RBI hits from Zelenka,
Katie Short,
Ava Planeta,
Hailey Bradley, and Brooks highlighted the decisive frame as the Fire sent 14 hitters to the plate.
Brooks paced the offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring four runs, driving in four, and stealing four bases. McKinney added two hits and two RBIs, while Planeta and
Chelsi Rae' Hebert also recorded multi-hit games as Southeastern totaled 14 hits in the finale.
The Fire return to action Monday, hosting No. 6 Grand View for a doubleheader beginning at noon at the SEU Softball Field.
