WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Top-seeded Southeastern opened the 2026 NAIA Softball Opening Round with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over No. 4 seed Dillard on Monday morning at the Diamond Plex, advancing the Fire into Tuesday's winner's bracket semifinal against No. 3 seed Faulkner at 11 a.m.

In a game dominated by pitching and defense, Southeastern used a first-inning RBI single from Erica Ramsey and a combined shutout effort from Emma Vickers and Maria Zelenka to improve to 45-7 on the season.

The Fire wasted little time manufacturing the game's only run. After Ella Brooks was retired to open the bottom of the first, Hailey Bradley lined a double into left center to put a runner in scoring position. Raylei McKinney followed with a deep fly ball to center that moved Bradley to third before Ramsey delivered a two-out RBI single to left field for a 1-0 Southeastern lead.

That single proved to be the difference in a tightly contested matchup between two teams that combined for 11 total hits and just one extra-base hit after the opening inning.

Vickers set the tone early in the circle for the Fire, working around a pair of first-inning singles to keep Dillard off the board. The sophomore right-hander scattered five hits across 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out five and walking two to earn her 10th win of the season.

Dillard consistently applied pressure throughout the morning, but Southeastern's defense and pitching answered each challenge.

The Bleu Devils put together their best opportunity in the top of the sixth inning. Jessica Battiste opened the frame with a single before Ja'Lise Stewart reached on a bunt fielder's choice. Grace Hunter then drove a double to left field, putting runners at second and third with one out and forcing the Fire to turn to Zelenka out of the bullpen.

After a walk loaded the bases, Zelenka calmly induced an infield fly from Mhallayah Picou before striking out Amayiah Franklin looking to end the inning and preserve the one-run advantage.

The Fire nearly added insurance in the bottom half of the sixth. McKinney singled and stole second before Ramsey and Nicole Wasserstrom followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases with two outs. Dillard starter Kylie Price escaped the jam with a popout to center field, keeping the deficit at one entering the seventh.

Zelenka then closed the door in dominant fashion in the seventh, striking out Jyah Hamilton and Ashlynn Gaston before inducing a game-ending popup behind the plate from Haley Weatherspoon.

Ramsey led the Southeastern offense with a 2-for-3 performance and the game-winning RBI. Bradley added a double and scored the lone run of the game, while McKinney, Wasserstrom, and Chloe Baker each recorded hits.

Dillard was paced offensively by Battiste and Hunter, who each collected two hits. Hunter also added the Bleu Devils' lone extra-base hit with her sixth-inning double.

Price took the tough-luck loss for Dillard after allowing just one run on six hits in a complete-game effort. The right-hander did not allow an earned run after the opening inning and needed only 67 pitches across six innings of work.

With the win, Southeastern advances into the winner's bracket and will face Faulkner on Tuesday morning with a berth in the Opening Round final at stake.