WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The Southeastern softball team swept a doubleheader with Olivet Nazarene, winning 6-5 in eight innings, and 3-0.
Southeastern built a 3-0 lead through three innings, getting a solo home run from Kristen Schwartz, and scored on an error in the second, then got a sacrifice fly by Natalie Hughes in the third.
Fire pitcher Hannah Bodenhorn retired the first nine she faced before allowing a single up the middle to start the fourth. The Tigers brought that leadoff single around to score on a one-out homer to center to make it a one-run game.
A two-run double to right with two outs gave ONU a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Sam Holcomb tied it with a two-out solo homer to right.
The Tigers threatened with runners at first and second in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but Bodenhorn got a pair of fly outs to send the game to extra innings.
The Fire loaded the bases in the eighth with the International Tie Breaker, a single by Lauren Watters, and a fielder’s choice by Whittney Purdy. Hannah Bonner drew a walk to give the Fire the lied, and a sacrifice fly by Holcomb put the Fire up two.
A throwing error allowed the Tigers to cut the deficit to one, and had runners on second and third with two outs, but a pop fly to second base ended the game.
Schwartz and Purdy had two hits each. Bodenhorn earned her second win of the year, allowing four earned on seven hits over eight innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Ashley Appell shut down the Tigers in the second game, spinning a gem in the pitching circle. The sophomore allowed just four hits over seven innings, and struck out seven to earn the win.
“Both pitchers came out today and really brought their A game,” said coach Rocky Stinson. “We faced some great competition this weekend and we know where we’re at and people know what they need to work on against good pitching.”
At the plate, Cheyenne Benson-Ross had an RBI single in the fourth, and an RBI double in the sixth, both scoring Haleigh Harrell. Also in the sixth, Holcomb picked up her second home run of the day.
Benson-Ross and Harrell each went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Fire will take on the Czech National Team on Wednesday in an International Exhibition game.