LAKELAND, Fla.—Senior Brandee Pietrzak drove in three of Southeastern’s four runs in a pair of 2-0 Sun Conference wins over Keiser on Wednesday.
Pietrzak started her 4-for-4 day at the plate with a two-run double to right center field in the bottom of the first to give the Fire a two-run advantage that would hold up behind solid pitching from Hannah Bodenhorn.
Two runs was plenty of support for Bodenhorn, who tossed a complete game, allowing two hits, both to KU leadoff man Kelsey Brodbeck. The junior struck out nine, walked four, and coaxed nine fly outs on a windy day. One of the nine strikeouts came in the first inning with Brodbeck and third with two outs to keep the Seahawks off the board.
That would be the only time in the game Keiser got a runner to third.
In the second game, starting pitcher Ashley Appell found herself in a tough spot with the bases loaded and one out, but a lineout to left centerfield, tracked down by Haliegh Harrell was unable to score a run, and a groundout back to Appell ended the threat.
Keiser stranded nine baserunners in the game, three of which were at third base. This included a one-out triple to right center by Brodbeck in the fifth, but was left stranded after a groundout and a fly out.
In the bottom of the first, a double by Pietrzak gave the Fire second and third with two outs, but a fly out ended the inning.
Natalie Hughes picked up a pinch-hit RBI double, scoring Pietrzak, who led off the inning with a double to put the Fire on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Pietrzak hit a solo homer to left in the sixth to give the Fire a two-run lead.
Again, Keiser threatened in the top of the seventh, with two on and two out, but Appell got a fly out to end the game.
The freshman improved to 14-7 with a complete game shutout, scattering eight hits, recording one strikeout and 13 fly outs on 99 pitches. Seven of the eight hits came from KU’s first four hitters in the lineup.
Southeastern will return to action next Wednesday at home against Coastal Georgia.