LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 19 Southeastern Softball opened the 2026 season in impressive fashion Friday, sweeping Bryan in an Opening Day doubleheader at the SEU Softball Field. The Fire claimed a 9–4 win in game one before erupting for a 14–1 run-rule victory in game two to begin the year 2–0.
Bryan struck first in the opener with a two-run double in the top of the first, but Southeastern answered right away.
Ella Brooks ignited the response with a leadoff single and stolen base, and
Lauren Sekinger brought her home to put the Fire on the board. SEU seized control in the third inning when a throwing error plated one run and
Nicole Wasserstrom followed with a two-run single to left, giving Southeastern a 4–2 lead.
The Fire continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings. A bases-loaded walk by
Erica Ramsey and additional run production in the fourth extended the margin, and
Jaidyn Fuller added a pinch-hit solo homer in the fifth. After Bryan cut the deficit to 7–4 in the sixth, Southeastern responded immediately.
Raylei McKinney singled and stole second before Ramsey crushed a two-run homer down the left-field line to secure the 9–4 win.
Brooks led the offense in game one, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double while also stealing a base. McKinney recorded two hits and a stolen base, and Wasserstrom drove in two. SEU totaled 11 hits and four stolen bases in the opener. In the circle, Playa earned the win with five strong innings, allowing just two runs on three hits.
Elana Roush handled the final two innings to close it out.
Game two saw the Fire offense shift into another gear. Brooks again set the tone, drawing a leadoff walk, stealing second, and scoring on McKinney's RBI double in the first. Southeastern broke the game open in the second with patience at the plate, using multiple walks to load the bases before Brooks forced in a run and
Hailey Bradley delivered a two-run single.
The decisive blow came in a six-run third inning.
Katie Short and
Chloe Baker each drove in runs, Brooks and Sekinger added RBI hits, and McKinney capped the frame with a two-run double as the Fire built a 10–0 advantage. SEU kept rolling in the fourth when
Ava Planeta singled home a run and Chelsi Rae Hebert launched a two-run homer to left center. McKinney added yet another RBI double later in the inning to push the lead to 14–0.
McKinney starred in game two, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three doubles. Brooks scored twice, drove in two, and stole two bases, while Bradley also plated a pair. The Fire finished with 12 hits in the nightcap.
Maria Zelenka was dominant in her season debut, striking out eight over three hitless innings to earn the win.
Emma Vickers worked the final two innings, allowing just one run. Bryan pushed across a run in the fifth, but the early surge secured the run-rule victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Southeastern continues its opening homestand next Friday, February 13, returning to the SEU Softball Field for a doubleheader against Thomas beginning at 1 p.m.
