SEU Softball Sweeps MVNU, Extends Win Streak to Six

CLERMONT, Fla.— With a pair of victories over Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Monday afternoon, the Fire softball team improved to 9-3 on the year. A 9-3 triumph in game one followed by an 8-0 thrashing in the latter contest extended SEU’s winning streak to six contests.
Southeastern jumped on MVNU early as Bailee Moll singled in Haleigh Harrell to get the Fire on the board in the first.
Cheyenne Benson-Ross polished off ten batters in a row before surrendering her first hit in the fourth inning. The senior only gave up three hits and struck out three over 5.1 innings of work.
After the Cougars went up 3-1 in the top of the fifth, SEU responded immediately in the bottom of the inning. Four consecutive hits, capped off by a 2-RBI single by Lauren Watters helped to tie the game at three.
Another single by Natalie Hughes scored Watters from second before Whitney Purdy came around on an error to make it 5-3.
The Fire added another four runs in the sixth to seal the competition. Following Moll’s second double of the game, Kristen Schwartz brought the junior around with a double of her own. Natalie Hughes scored Sam Holcomb with a deep sacrifice fly to center, while Kaylee Orr and Purdy both drew walks with the bases loaded to score the other two runs.
In the second contest, the Fire broke through in the top of the fourth.
Benson-Ross singled, scoring Moll, who registered her third extra base hit of the day. Benson-Ross went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Moll finished 5-for-7 overall with an RBI and three runs scored.
Schwartz then singled in Benson-Ross, while Watters and Holcomb came around on the misplayed hit that rolled to the left field fence, making it 4-0 SEU.
The Fire notched the five-inning victory by plating four in the fifth. Benson-Ross scored Heather Faulk before Southeastern loaded the bases once again. Watters cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double to left center to give SEU an eight-run advantage.
All eight of Southeastern’s runs were scored with two outs as the Fire posted a .545 batting average while down to their final out in any inning.
Ashley Appell threw a gem in the circle, preserving the 8-0 shutout victory with a three-hit pitching performance, while striking out a trio of Cougars.
SEU will now travel to Mobile, Ala. on Wednesday for a doubleheader against No. 8 University of Mobile. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4 p.m.