COLUMBUS, Ga. — Southeastern used a four-run second inning and another complete-game effort from Maria Zelenka to remain unbeaten at the NAIA Softball World Series, defeating Southern Oregon 5-2 Monday afternoon at South Commons Complex. The game was delayed for one hour and 40 minutes by rain after the first pitch of the top of the fourth inning before the Fire closed out their 50th win of the season.

Southern Oregon struck first in the top of the second inning. Avery Coffin opened the frame with a walk and eventually scored on an RBI single from Kalea Thomas to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.

The Fire answered immediately in the bottom half. Erica Ramsey was hit by a pitch to begin the inning before Nicole Wasserstrom reached on a sacrifice bunt that forced an error and moved Ramsey to third. Maria Zelenka tied the game with an RBI single through the left side, and after Lauren Sekinger's sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, Chloe Baker lined an RBI single through the right side to put Southeastern in front.

Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Ella Brooks worked a walk to extend the rally, setting up Hailey Bradley for the decisive swing of the afternoon. Bradley lofted a bloop double just over the head of the retreating second baseman, who nearly made a running catch on the play, allowing both Baker and Zelenka to score and pushing the Fire lead to 4-1.

The rain delay came immediately after the first pitch to Southern Oregon's first batter in the top of the fourth inning. Once play resumed nearly two hours later, the Raiders put together a threat with a single and hit batter, but Zelenka escaped the inning in dramatic fashion as Kalea Thomas lined into an inning-ending double play started by Lauren Sekinger at third base.

Zelenka settled in from there inside the circle. The senior scattered six hits across seven innings while allowing just two runs and striking out five in her 18th win of the season. She stranded eight Southern Oregon runners and held the Raiders scoreless through the middle innings after the lengthy weather interruption.

Southeastern added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Brooks drew her second walk of the afternoon, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a perfectly placed RBI bunt single by Bradley to extend the lead to 5-1.

Southern Oregon attempted a late rally in the seventh. Elysia Duarte led off with a bunt single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Vanessa Lang, but Zelenka retired the final two batters to secure the win.

Bradley led the Southeastern offense with three RBIs, finishing 2-for-4 with the two-run double and the bunt RBI single in the sixth. Zelenka also helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk, while Baker added an RBI single and Wasserstrom and Abby Franey each collected hits.

With the victory, Southeastern improved to 50-8 overall and advanced to the winners bracket semifinal on Tuesday, where the Fire will face either Madonna or Mobile.