Fire Fall Twice in First Sun Conference Outing

LAKELAND, Fla. – Fire softball dropped both games during Saturday’s Sun Conference opener to Webber 1-0 and 5-3, respectively. Over span of both game one, and part of game two, the Warriors pitching staff held the Southeastern squad scoreless for 11 innings straight. Dating back to the inception of the program, the Fire now hold a 4-6 record on Sun Conference Opening Day.
In the first inning of game one, both teams were held scoreless. However, Webber produced a run in the second after a lead-off Meghan Lindell double to left field. Lindell advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Megan Isoba, and she scored on an RBI single off of the bat of Cassidy Roberts. This run would be the sole difference maker for Webber.
As the game progressed, pitching continued to dazzle as both Hannah Bodenhorn and Sabrina Hebding baffled hitters.
The Fire threatened in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out double by Haleigh Harrell, but came up short with two routine fly outs following her at bat. Harrell was the only Fire base runner to reach second in the game.
SEU accumulated three hits in the contest; Harrell’s double, a single to left field from Ramsey Sullivan, and a bunt single by Heather Faulk.
Webber’s Hebding solidified her second win of the season in the circle. Southeastern’s Hannah Bodenhorn tossed a four-hit, complete game for the Fire while striking out nine.
Game two was a different story for both teams. Webber wasted no time, scoring a run in the first inning.
Ka’Deisha McCowen began the opening frame with a single right back up the middle to lead things off for the Warriors. Alyssa Rodriguez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move McCowen over to second, and Laura Borders reached on an error allowing McCowen to score.
The Warriors would add runs in three consecutive innings increasing the Southeastern deficit to five.
During the fifth there was a glimpse of a potential comeback showcased by the team in the first base dugout. With one out Sam Holcomb singled into left field. Dayna McDonald followed Holcomb with of a single of her own into left field. Later in the inning, Haleigh Harrell drew a two-out walk loading the bases for Brandee Pietrzak. The native of New Carlisle, Indiana saw a fastball out over home plate and drove it over the centerfielder’s head, clearing the bases. Pietrzak’s three RBIs brings her season total to 10.
As momentum began to shift in favor of the Fire, the Warriors mitigated any further threat in the final two innings to hold on to a 5-3 victory.
Despite the Fire’s offensive woes, Lauren Watters collected a pair of hits during her three at bats.
The Fire have a chance to bounce back in Clermont on Monday. Southeastern will battle Point Park at 5:30 p.m. and Mount Vernon Nazarene at 7:30 PM.