WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Top-seeded Southeastern dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to No. 3 seed Faulkner on Tuesday morning in the semifinal round of the NAIA Opening Round Lakeland Bracket at the Diamond Plex. The loss moves the Fire into the elimination semifinal on Wednesday at noon against No. 2 seed Evangel, while Faulkner advances to the bracket final unbeaten.
Southeastern now sits at 45-8 overall and will need to win twice on Wednesday to force an if-necessary championship game Thursday.
Faulkner struck quickly in the opening inning, capitalizing on a pair of baserunners before Madelyn Becker delivered a two-run double to right center to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
The Fire threatened multiple times early but were unable to break through against Faulkner starter Abrianna Davis. Southeastern stranded five runners over the opening three innings despite collecting five hits during that stretch.
Edan Playa settled in after the opening frame and kept the Fire within striking distance, allowing Southeastern's offense time to respond. The Fire finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning when
Nicole Wasserstrom singled before
Lauren Sekinger moved into scoring position with a hit to right center.
Chloe Baker then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
Faulkner added what proved to be the deciding run in the sixth inning. Bailea Boone opened the frame with a single before the Eagles loaded the bases following a hit and a Southeastern error. Addyson Jarman followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-1.
The Fire answered immediately in the bottom half.
Erica Ramsey singled to open the inning and later scored on an RBI single by
Abby Franey after Southeastern loaded the bases with one out. Faulkner cut down the tying run at the plate to preserve the one-run advantage.
Southeastern mounted one final push in the seventh when
Ella Brooks led off with a single, but Faulkner turned a line-drive double play before recording the final out to close the game.
The Fire finished with nine hits, led by Wasserstrom's 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Franey added an RBI single while Sekinger, Brooks, Bradley, Fuller, and Ramsey each recorded hits.
Playa took the loss after allowing three runs — two earned — across 5.1 innings.
Maria Zelenka worked the final 1.2 innings in relief without allowing an earned run.
Wednesday's elimination semifinal between Southeastern and Evangel is scheduled for noon, with the winner advancing to face Faulkner in the bracket championship game at 2:30 p.m. If necessary, a final winner-take-all game would be played Thursday at noon.
