BABSON PARK, Fla. — No. 4 Southeastern clinched the Sun Conference regular season championship for the first time since 2022 on Friday, using a 5–1 victory over Webber International in the opening game of the series to secure the program's fourth all-time title.
The Fire used a balanced effort at the plate and a dominant outing in the circle from
Maria Zelenka to control the opener from start to finish, improving their position heading into Saturday's regular-season finale.
Southeastern and Webber International played through three scoreless innings before the Fire broke through in the fourth.
Raylei McKinney sparked the inning with a single and aggressive baserunning, eventually coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from
Lauren Sekinger to give SEU a 1–0 edge.
Webber answered in the bottom half of the inning to even the score at 1–1, but that would be the only damage allowed by Zelenka. From there, the Fire settled in and took control late.
The decisive moment came in the sixth inning. After
Hailey Bradley doubled to lead things off, McKinney followed with a bunt single that helped apply pressure. A pair of Webber errors allowed both runners to score, giving Southeastern a 3–1 advantage. Later in the inning, Zelenka doubled and
Nicole Wasserstrom delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 4–1.
SEU added an insurance run in the seventh, as
Abby Franey doubled and McKinney drove her in with her third hit of the game, capping a standout performance at the plate.
McKinney led the Fire with three hits and two runs scored, while Bradley, Franey, and Zelenka each added extra-base hits as part of an eight-hit effort.
In the circle, Zelenka was in full control, tossing a complete game while allowing just two hits and one run, striking out six over seven innings.
The clinch gives Southeastern its fourth Sun Conference regular season title and first since 2022, continuing a history that includes championships in 2015, 2016, and 2022.
The Fire will look to carry that momentum into Saturday, when the teams conclude the regular season with a doubleheader beginning at noon in Babson Park.
