COLUMBUS, Ga. — Southeastern softball is headed to the NAIA Softball World Series Championship Round for the first time in program history after the second-seeded Fire defeated fifth-seeded Our Lady of the Lake 3-0 Wednesday afternoon at South Commons Complex.

Maria Zelenka picked up the win after tossing a complete-game shutout, limiting Our Lady of the Lake to two hits over seven innings while striking out three and walking two. The junior kept the Saints off balance throughout the afternoon to earn her 19th victory of the season.

After two scoreless innings to begin the game, Southeastern broke through in the bottom of the third before weather halted play for more than five and a half hours.

Abby Franey opened the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Ella Brooks also drew a free pass. Hailey Bradley then stepped to the plate with two runners on when play was suspended because of rain.

Following the lengthy delay, Bradley dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Raylei McKinney followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Franey for the game's first run.

One batter later, Erica Ramsey added an RBI single into right field to score Brooks and extend the lead to 2-0.

The Fire added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Ramsey worked a leadoff walk and pinch runner Katie Short advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Nicole Wasserstrom. Zelenka followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate Short and make it 3-0.

Our Lady of the Lake put two runners on with no outs in the top of the seventh after an error and a single, but Southeastern responded with a double play before Novalee Gloria popped out to first base to end the game.

Franey reached base twice and scored a run, while Ramsey drove in a run and also reached base twice. Southeastern finished with five hits in the semifinal victory. 

The victory moved SEU to 51-9 on the season and into Thursday's championship series against top-seeded Madonna. Because the Fire carry one loss into the final round, SEU must defeat Madonna twice on Thursday to claim the national championship.

First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 11 a.m. If Southeastern wins the opener, the if-necessary game will begin approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.