LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 10 Southeastern Softball returns to Sun Conference play this weekend with a road series against New College of Florida in Sarasota. The Fire enter the weekend riding a 13-game winning streak and will play a three-game conference set beginning with a Friday doubleheader before closing the series Saturday afternoon at NCF Field. The schedule for the series has been adjusted from what was originally announced, shifting the opening games to a Friday doubleheader.
Schedule
- Friday – 1 p.m. – at New College of Florida (DH)
- Saturday – 12 p.m. – at New College of Florida
All games will be played at NCF Field in Sarasota, Florida.
How to Follow
Fans can watch the games on the Urban Edge Network, available through the Urban Edge Network app on Smart TVs and mobile devices or online at
urbanedgenetwork.net. Live statistics will also be available throughout the series for fans looking to follow the action in real time.
Fire 5 — Five Notes on No. 10 SEU Softball
- Dominant Run Prevention
Southeastern leads the NAIA with a 0.58 team ERA and 0.74 WHIP, allowing just 12 earned runs across 144 innings while holding opponents to a .160 batting average this season.
- Brooks Setting the Table
Ella Brooks is hitting .543 with 38 hits and 32 runs scored while going a perfect 30-for-30 in stolen bases, ranking among the NAIA leaders in multiple offensive categories.
- McKinney Providing the Power
Raylei McKinney leads the Sun Conference with a .776 slugging percentage, tallying 31 hits, nine doubles, four home runs, and 23 RBIs through the Fire's first 23 games.
- Elite One-Two Punch in the Circle
Maria Zelenka (10–1, 0.22 ERA) and Edan Playa (9–0, 0.44 ERA) have combined for 19 wins, anchoring one of the most dominant pitching rotations in the NAIA.
- Balanced Offensive Attack
The Fire are hitting .350 as a team with 191 hits and 120 RBIs, averaging more than six runs per game while producing 29 doubles and 12 home runs through 23 games.
About the Fire
Southeastern enters the weekend with a 21–2 overall record and a perfect 3–0 mark in Sun Conference play, currently riding a 13-game winning streak. The Fire have been dominant in multiple settings this season, posting a 14–1 record at home, 6–1 mark at neutral sites, and 1–0 record on the road.
Offensively, Southeastern has been one of the most productive teams in the NAIA. The Fire are hitting .350 as a team with a .432 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage, ranking 22nd nationally in batting average, 15th in OBP, and 34th in slugging. The lineup has produced 191 hits, 29 doubles, three triples, and 12 home runs, while consistently applying pressure with speed and aggressive baserunning.
The Fire pitching staff has been among the most dominant units in the country. Southeastern leads the NAIA in both ERA (0.58) and WHIP (0.74) while holding opponents to just a .160 batting average. The Fire have recorded 142 strikeouts across 144 innings and also lead the Sun Conference in strikeouts per seven innings (6.90).
At the Plate
Ella Brooks has been one of the most dominant hitters in the conference and nationally this season. The senior leads the Sun Conference with a .543 batting average and .600 on-base percentage, while also pacing the league with 38 hits. Brooks has scored 32 runs, driven in 19, and added six doubles and a home run, while also swiping 30 bases in 30 attempts to provide constant pressure on opposing defenses. On the national stage, Brooks ranks 12th in the NAIA in batting average, 13th in on-base percentage, 4th in hits, and 2nd in stolen bases, making her one of the most productive and dynamic players in the country.
Raylei McKinney has supplied the Fire with significant power production in the middle of the lineup. McKinney is hitting .463 with a conference-leading .776 slugging percentage, collecting 31 hits, nine doubles, and four home runs while tying for the conference lead with 23 RBIs. Her ability to drive the ball into the gaps has made her one of the most dangerous hitters in the Sun Conference. Nationally, McKinney ranks 48th in slugging percentage, 17th in hits, 17th in doubles, and 23rd in both RBIs and home runs, placing her among the NAIA's most productive run producers.
Erica Ramsey has provided consistency and timely hitting throughout the lineup. The junior enters the weekend batting .417 with 15 hits, seven RBIs, and a .542 on-base percentage, helping extend innings and create scoring opportunities for the middle of the order. Ramsey has also played a key defensive role behind the plate while helping guide Southeastern's pitching staff.
Lauren Sekinger continues to anchor the Fire in the infield while contributing steady offensive production. Sekinger is hitting .377 with 23 hits and 13 RBIs, reaching base at a .444 clip. Her consistent contact and situational hitting have helped sustain rallies throughout the season.
Several other Fire hitters have added depth to the lineup.
Hailey Bradley is hitting .320 and has scored 17 runs, while
Abby Franey contributes a .271 batting average with 10 walks and a .400 on-base percentage.
Ava Planeta has also produced in limited opportunities, batting .367 with seven RBIs, helping give Southeastern one of the most balanced offenses in the Sun Conference.
In the Circle
Maria Zelenka has been the centerpiece of Southeastern's pitching dominance this season. The right-hander owns a 10–1 record with a remarkable 0.22 ERA, striking out 85 batters in 63.1 innings while holding opponents to a .170 batting average. Zelenka also leads the Sun Conference with 9.39 strikeouts per seven innings and has consistently limited baserunners while working deep into games. Her performance has placed her among the nation's elite pitchers, ranking 3rd in the NAIA in ERA, 4th in WHIP, 9th in strikeouts per seven innings, 3rd in wins, and 5th in total strikeouts this season.
Edan Playa has provided an equally strong presence in the Fire rotation. Playa enters the weekend with a 9–0 record and a 0.44 ERA, allowing just 20 hits across 47.1 innings while posting a conference-best 0.57 WHIP. Her command in the circle has made her one of the most efficient pitchers in the Sun Conference and a key complement to Southeastern's ace.
Behind the Fire's top two arms,
Emma Vickers and
Elana Roush have added valuable depth to the pitching staff. Vickers holds a 1.28 ERA across 27.1 innings with two wins on the season, while Roush has provided relief appearances and additional innings when needed. Together, the quartet has helped Southeastern allow just 12 earned runs across 144 innings, establishing the Fire as one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the NAIA this season.
About New College of Florida
New College of Florida enters the weekend with a 16–3 overall record and a 3–0 mark in Sun Conference play, establishing itself as one of the top early contenders in the league standings. The Mighty Banyans have been strong on both sides of the ball, hitting .339 as a team with a .497 slugging percentage while producing 169 hits and 14 home runs through their first 19 games. In the circle, New College has compiled a 1.33 team ERA while limiting opponents to a .215 batting average, led by Isabella Yazzetti, who owns a 0.65 ERA with a 6–1 record in 43.1 innings.
Series History
Southeastern has controlled the brief all-time series between the two programs, holding a 5–0 advantage since the first meeting in 2024. Four of those matchups have been played in Lakeland, with one neutral-site contest coming during the 2025 postseason. The Fire opened the series with a 7–1 victory in February 2024, then swept a three-game conference set in Lakeland in April 2025, highlighted by a 1–0 pitching duel and an 8–0 run-rule win. Southeastern most recently defeated New College 7–0 in a neutral-site meeting during the 2025 conference tournament, extending the current series win streak to five games.
Looking Ahead
Following the conference series in Sarasota, Southeastern will return to neutral-site action on Tuesday at the 2026 Space Coast Spring Games in Melbourne, Florida. The Fire are scheduled to play a pair of games during the event, opening the day against Johnson (Tenn.) before facing Northwestern Ohio later in the afternoon.
