SARASOTA, Fla. - NCF Softball suffered a series sweep at the hands of No. 10 Southeastern over the weekend, dropping Game 1 10-0 and Game 2 9-1 Friday and dropping a closely contested series finale 2-1 Saturday.
The Mighty Banyans are now 16-6 on the season and 3-3 in Sun Conference play.
Game 1
The Fire used a pair of early innings to take control of the opener. Southeastern scored twice in the second inning and then broke the game open with an eight run third inning on eight hits to build a 10-0 lead.
New College collected six hits in the contest but was unable to bring a runner home. Jill Halas and Kaitlin Kohlenberg each singled to start the bottom of the first inning, while Samantha Suarez finished with two hits to lead the Banyans offensively. Karyna Lewis and Jamie Reinhardt also recorded hits.
Game 2
Southeastern again used an early surge to build separation in the second game of the day. The Fire pushed across multiple seven runs in the top of the second to carry a large lead into the later innings.
New College broke through in the fifth inning when Ashlynn Sentner delivered an RBI single that brought home Evelyn DiPiero to get the Banyans on the board. The hit capped a sequence that saw the Banyans put multiple runners on base late in the game
DiPiero and Suarez each recorded hits for New College, while the Banyans also drew several base runners throughout the contest as they tried to mount a late rally.
Game 3
Southeastern struck first in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, but New College quickly responded in the bottom half. Lewis reached base and used her speed to create the tying run, stealing both second and third before scoring on an RBI single from Reinhardt to even the score at 1-1.
Both teams traded scoreless frames through the fourth before Southeastern regained the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run that pushed the Fire ahead 3-1.
New College continued to apply pressure offensively, finishing with seven hits in the game. Suarez led the Banyans with two hits, while Sydney Rich doubled Reinhardt and Kelsey Harper each had two singles and Lewis also singled.
The Banyans had opportunities late but were unable to push across another run as Southeastern held on to complete the series sweep.
NCF out-hit Southeastern 7-5 in the game.
Up Next: NCF will head to Melbourne for four games at the Spacecoast Tournament, starting with a doubleheader vs. Indiana University at South Bend Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. EST.
