BABSON PARK, Fla. — One day after clinching the program's first conference title since 2022, No. 4 Southeastern closed the regular season in strong form Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Webber International at Nancy Nichols Field by scores of 11-3 and 5-3, using explosive offense in the opener and timely power in the nightcap to carry momentum into the Sun Conference Tournament.
The Fire controlled much of the day behind 21 combined hits, strong pitching performances across both games, and contributions throughout the lineup, finishing the regular season on a high note with a sweep that showcased the depth that has fueled Southeastern all spring.
Southeastern wasted little time asserting itself in game one.
After a quiet opening inning, the Fire broke the game wide open with a six-run second, stringing together pressure, speed, and timely extra-base hitting.
Erica Ramsey opened the inning with a double and
Lauren Sekinger followed with a walk before Southeastern capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
Chloe Baker started the scoring with a two-run single,
Abby Franey added an RBI bunt hit, and
Ella Brooks pushed another run across before
Raylei McKinney delivered the big blow, lining a two-run double into the gap for a 6-0 lead.
The early surge set the tone, but the Fire never let up.
Katie Short added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 7-1, then
Danielle Wasserstrom came through with a two-run double in the sixth as Southeastern continued to stretch the margin. In the seventh, sacrifice flies from
Nicole Wasserstrom and Baker produced two more insurance runs to cap the 11-run effort.
The offense was balanced throughout. Brooks and Franey each posted two-hit, two-run games, Baker drove in three runs, while McKinney and
Danielle Wasserstrom added two RBIs apiece.
Katie Short also sparked the lineup off the bench with two hits and an RBI.
In the circle,
Edan Playa gave Southeastern a solid start, and
Elana Roush closed things down in relief as the duo combined to limit Webber to six hits. The Warriors scratched across single runs in the second, fifth, and sixth, but never mounted sustained pressure after the Fire's early breakout.
Southeastern carried that energy into game two and once again leaned on timely swings and strong pitching.
The Fire opened the scoring in the second as
Lauren Sekinger and
Nicole Wasserstrom set up
Ella Brooks for an RBI single, but the middle innings provided the separation. In the third,
Raylei McKinney drew a walk ahead of
Erica Ramsey, who launched a two-run home run to left-center to push the lead to 3-0.
One inning later, McKinney added another signature swing, crushing a two-run homer to left-center after
Hailey Bradley was hit by a pitch, giving Southeastern a 5-0 cushion.
That proved enough for
Emma Vickers, who turned in a composed outing in the circle, scattering three hits and allowing two runs over five innings to earn the win. Webber pushed back with two runs in the fifth and added another in the sixth to make things interesting, but Southeastern answered late.
Edan Playa bridged the sixth before
Maria Zelenka entered in the seventh and slammed the door with a perfect frame to secure the save and preserve the sweep.
McKinney once again led the offensive charge with two hits, two runs and two RBIs, while Ramsey added two hits and two RBIs of her own. Sekinger and
Nicole Wasserstrom each recorded multi-hit efforts as the Fire piled up 10 hits in the nightcap.
The sweep punctuated another impressive regular season for Southeastern, which now heads into postseason play carrying plenty of momentum.
With Saturday's pair of wins, the Fire secured their third straight 40-win season, completed the regular season a perfect 13-0 in road games, and finished 22-2 in Sun Conference play, good for a .917 winning percentage, the program's best league mark since going 14-1 (.933) in 2015.
Now the focus turns to Clearwater.
Southeastern opens play in the 2026 Sun Conference Softball Tournament on Thursday at 4 p.m., taking on the winner of No. 4 New College and No. 5 St. Thomas at Eddie C. Moore Complex (Field 8) with a conference title and national postseason positioning on the line.
