PLANT CITY, Fla.—A 5-for-7 day at the plate for senior catcher Brandee Pieterzak on Sunday helped the Fire beat Middle Georgia State. 8-3, but come up short to William Carey, 2-0.
In the game against Middle Georgia, Pietrzak was responsible for driving in four of SEU’s first five runs. Her single up the middle in the third drove in Haleigh Harrell to put the Fire on the board first.
The Knights came back with a three-run fifth with a two-out bases loaded double to center field to clear the bases and take the lead.
Pietrzak responded in the next half inning with a single to center field to bring Harrell around, who reached on an error. An RBI groundout by Britney Schmidt tied the game.
In the sixth, Pietrzak singled to center field with the bases loaded, to drive in two runs. That kicked off a five-run sixth, which saw three runs score on a dropped fly ball with the bases loaded.
Freshman Ashley Appell struck out four, throwing a complete game. Appell gave up three runs on four hits, coaxing 13 fly outs and four ground outs.
Southeastern struggled to string hits together against William Carey in the second game of the day. Twice the Fire had the leadoff man aboard, but couldn’t score.
In the first, the Fire had two on with two outs after singles by Pietrzak and Kiah Ferrell, but a fly out to left ended the inning.
William Carey did all of its damage in the third inning with an RBI double and a bases-loaded two-out walk.
Hannah Boddenhorn looked strong in the circle early on, finishing with four strikeouts and three walks in four innings of work. Boddenhorn allowed just two hits, getting five of the 18 batters she faced to fly out, and three to ground out.
Hannah Moak earned the win for WCU, striking out six over seven innings.
The Fire are back in action on Saturday at home against Webber International.
