WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - A two-run shot by sophomore phenom Addyson Jarman looked to lead Faulkner (37-15) to a bid to the World Series, but Southeastern (47-8) responded with a home run in the third to tie it and seized the momentum to force the If Necessary game.
Anna Catherine Segrest singled down the right field line as the first baserunner of the game, and two pitches later, Jarman got the barrel of the bat perfectly under the ball to dead center for the early 2-0 lead. With two outs in the top of the second, the Fire began to chip away with two singles and an error bringing in an unearned run. Then, after holding Faulkner scoreless, Hailey Bradley led off the third with a home run to left aided by the strong breeze at the field today. Two singles and a stolen base by the first runner led to SEU taking the lead with a sac bunt.
In the top of the fourth, Fire leadoff batter Ella Brooks hit one to right center that she turned into a triple, and Sun Conference Player of the Year Raylei McKinney got on deck with a single to score Brooks before coming home on a Nicole Wasserstrom RBI single. Madelyn Becker then led off the bottom half with a double to left center. She got to third on a single to left by Kensley Wesley and scoring on a Bailea Boone sac fly.
That would be all for the scoring, as Faulkner left nine runners on base and Southeastern left 11 aboard. Segrest, Jarman and Wesley each had two hits, and Sarah Williams was a perfect 4-4. Both pitchers went the distance and issued no walks, but it was Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year Maria Zelenka with her 17th win of the season as she scattered 12 hits and five strikeouts for the win. Reece Patterson, in her third appearance in as many days, issued 16 hits, four earned runs and two strikeouts for just her fourth loss of the season.
Now, it all comes down to the If Necessary game on Thursday at 11 am CT with the winner advancing to the World Series in Columbus, Ga., and the loser going home. This program has had its back to the wall before, dropping a game to the favored top seed and host team in the 2018 Opening Round in Campbellsville, only to run the table and make it to the final site. Tune in to the free stream on the Urban Edge Network and see more on the Championship Central page to follow the action and find out if the Lady Eagles have more magic awaiting them. Will Cinderella finish the dance, or will the clock strike midnight? Either way, these Lady Eagles aren't done yet.
