COLUMBUS, Ga. — A historic season for the Southeastern softball program came to a close Thursday afternoon as the No. 2-seeded Fire fell to top-seeded Madonna, 8-4, in the NAIA Softball World Series Championship Game at South Commons Softball Complex.
Despite the defeat, Southeastern capped off one of the finest campaigns in program history. The Fire finished the season 51-10, marking just the second 50-win season in program history while posting the highest winning percentage in school history at .836. Southeastern also secured its best-ever finish at the NAIA Softball World Series as national runner-up in the program's third all-time appearance at the event.
SEU struck first after two scoreless innings from both sides.
Abby Franey opened the third inning with a walk before
Ella Brooks followed with a single to center. After a sacrifice bunt from
Hailey Bradley moved both runners into scoring position,
Raylei McKinney delivered an RBI single to right-center to plate the game's first run.
Nicole Wasserstrom added another run moments later with an infield single as the Fire took a 2-0 lead.
Madonna answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of five hits and a pair of SEU defensive miscues to score four runs and move in front 4-2.
The Fire responded again in the fourth.
Lauren Sekinger opened the inning with a single before
Chloe Baker walked to put two aboard. Following a pitching change, Franey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brooks reached on a fielder's choice that brought home one run after Madonna cut down Sekinger at the plate, and
Erica Ramsey later lined an RBI single through the left side to tie the contest at 4-4.
Momentum shifted again in the bottom of the fourth as Madonna capitalized on another SEU error. The Crusaders scored three unearned runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Carson Kuhlmann, to reclaim a 7-4 advantage.
Madonna added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Jessica Dunkel to extend the lead to 8-4.
Southeastern threatened late after Wasserstrom singled in the seventh, but the Fire were unable to mount a comeback as Madonna secured the national title.
McKinney and Wasserstrom each recorded two hits for Southeastern, while Ramsey, McKinney, and Wasserstrom each drove in a run. Franey scored twice and reached base three times in the championship contest.
Maria Zelenka started in the circle for SEU, allowing four runs — two earned — over 2.2 innings before
Edan Playa worked the final 3.1 innings in relief.
Zelenka and McKinney were both named to the NAIA Softball World Series All-Tournament Team following their performances throughout Southeastern's postseason run. Zelenka contributed both in the circle and at the plate during the Fire's run to the national championship game, while McKinney provided key offensive production throughout the tournament.
The defeat closed the book on a landmark season for the Fire, who continued the upward trajectory of the program with a deep postseason run that included victories over College of Idaho, Southern Oregon, and Our Lady of the Lake to reach the championship series. Southeastern's runner-up finish stands as the best national tournament result in program history and further established the Fire among the NAIA's national elite.
