COLUMBUS, Ga. – After weather delayed their opening round game of the NAIA Softball World Series by one day, Southeastern finally took the field Saturday afternoon and opened its national tournament run with a 3-1 victory over College of Idaho at South Commons.

The matchup developed into a tightly contested pitchers' duel early between Southeastern left-hander Edan Playa and College of Idaho ace Kina Watts. Neither offense managed much momentum through the opening four innings as both teams combined for just five hits during that stretch.

Playa worked efficiently from the start, retiring the Yotes in order in the first inning before stranding runners in scoring position during the second and fourth frames. College of Idaho collected seven hits overall, but Playa did not issue a walk and consistently forced weak contact throughout the afternoon. The senior finished with 13 fly-ball outs while throwing all seven innings on 88 pitches to improve to 18-4 on the season.

Southeastern threatened first in the opening inning when Ella Brooks drew a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Hailey Bradley, but Watts escaped the inning with a strikeout and lineout to keep the game scoreless.

The Fire put another runner in scoring position in the fourth after Raylei McKinney singled through the left side and moved to second on a groundout, but College of Idaho again worked out of trouble to maintain the deadlock.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Maria Zelenka opened the frame by driving a double to center field for Southeastern's first extra-base hit of the afternoon. Lauren Sekinger immediately followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved Zelenka to third and brought the infield in.

Pinch hitter Jaidyn Fuller then delivered in a key moment, lining a single up the middle to score Zelenka and give the Fire a 1-0 lead. Abby Franey followed with another single to put two runners aboard before a wild pitch moved Fuller to third. Ella Brooks was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Bradley.

Bradley chopped an infield single toward third base to bring home Fuller and extend the lead to 2-0. Following a pitching change, McKinney added another insurance run with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Franey for a 3-0 advantage.

College of Idaho mounted its only serious threat in the seventh inning.

Chloe Flerchinger led off with a single before Ysabella Villegas and Kamryn Ham added consecutive hits to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly trimmed the deficit to 3-1 and brought the tying run to the plate, but Southeastern avoided further damage. On the game's final play, Sekinger fielded a ground ball at third base and stepped on the bag herself to end the game and secure the Fire victory.

Southeastern finished with five hits offensively, with Zelenka, Fuller, Franey, Bradley, and McKinney each recording one. Bradley, Fuller, and McKinney each drove in a run during the decisive fifth inning.

The Fire improved to 49-8 on the season and advanced into the winner's bracket, where they will face Southern Oregon on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.