SEU Softball Walks Off to Split Tight Matchups with Thomas

LAKELAND, Fla.—The Fire softball team walked off over Thomas University in the bottom of the seventh to notch a 1-0 victory before falling to the Night Hawks 2-0 in extra innings in game two of their doubleheader. With the split, Southeastern moved to 21-18 (5-5 TSC) on the year, keeping the squad in the hunt for a potential postseason berth.
The pair of competitions featured spectacular pitching performances by both teams, as neither team could grab the upper hand until late in the contests.
In game one, Hannah Bodenhorn threw seven scoreless innings, while striking out 11 Thomas batters. The senior shut down the lineup, sitting down seven of nine Night Hawks via the punchout and setting the stage for heroics in the bottom of the seventh.
Following Ramsey Sullivan’s leadoff single in the seventh, Hannah Bonner laid down a beautiful bunt toward third base. As Bonner reached on the bunt single, the third baseman’s throw sailed into right field, allowing Jaz Szierer, who pinch ran for Sullivan, to score from first.
Bodenhorn improved to 9-6 with her complete-game three hit showing. Bonner ended the game 2-3 as the only SEU player with multiple hits.
Southeastern had trouble bringing around baserunners in the latter contest. Leadoff batters hit .714, but SEU batted .100 with runners on and .067 with runners in scoring position. The Fire stranded 12, including multiple runners in four innings, which proved costly.
Neither team broke through until a two-out 2-RBI triple by Gaby Mora in the top of the eighth gave TU the 2-0 triumph.
Ashley Appell fanned seven Night Hawks, one shy of her career high for strikeouts, in an impressive outing in the circle for SEU. Despite taking the loss, the sophomore surrendered just four hits and a lone earned run over eight innings of work.
The extra-inning defeat in game two snapped SEU’s four-game winning streak.
Southeastern will be back in action when the team travels to Webber International on Thursday. First pitch of game one in Babson Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.