SARASOTA, Fla. — No. 10 Southeastern opened Sun Conference play at New College with a dominant doubleheader sweep on Friday, defeating the Mighty Banyans 10–0 in five innings in Game 1 and 9–1 in Game 2 at NCF Field.
The Fire improved to 23–2 overall and 5–0 in Sun Conference play behind a powerful offensive showing and strong pitching performances across both games.
Game 1: Southeastern 10, New College 0 (5 innings)
In the opener, Southeastern used timely hitting and a decisive middle inning to secure the run-rule victory. After a scoreless first, the Fire broke through in the second inning when
Erica Ramsey doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by
Abby Franey.
Maria Zelenka followed with a double, and
Nicole Wasserstrom delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 2–0.
Southeastern put the game away in the third with an explosive eight-run inning.
Jaidyn Fuller led off the rally with a double before
Ella Brooks drove in two runs with a single later in the frame.
Lauren Sekinger, Franey, Zelenka, and Wasserstrom each added RBIs as the Fire sent 13 batters to the plate and pushed the advantage to 10–0.
Brooks led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Franey, Wasserstrom, Fuller, and Zelenka each recorded two hits. Zelenka also contributed an RBI double during the big third inning.
In the circle, Zelenka earned the win to improve to 11–1, striking out four while allowing just three hits over three scoreless innings.
Emma Vickers closed the game with two innings of relief as Southeastern's pitching staff limited New College to six hits and kept the Banyans off the scoreboard.
Game 2: Southeastern 9, New College 1 (5 innings)
The Fire carried that momentum into Game 2, breaking the contest open with a seven-run second inning.
Erica Ramsey,
Abby Franey, and Zelenka opened the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases before
Ava Planeta reached on an error that allowed two runs to score.
Chloe Baker followed with an RBI fielder's choice, and Brooks added an RBI single. Sekinger drove in another run with a groundout before
Raylei McKinney and Ramsey capped the inning with RBI hits to give Southeastern a commanding 7–0 lead.
Southeastern added to the margin in the third when
Hailey Bradley doubled to left center to score Planeta, and the Fire tacked on another run in the fifth as McKinney delivered an RBI single.
McKinney led the offense in the nightcap with three hits and two RBIs, while Ramsey also collected three hits. Brooks added two hits as the Fire finished with 11 hits in the game.
Edan Playa remained unbeaten in the circle, improving to 10–0 after allowing just two hits over three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Elana Roush finished the game with two innings of relief as Southeastern held New College to one run on six hits.
The Fire will look to complete the series sweep on Saturday at 1 p.m. at NCF Field.
