COLUMBUS, Ga. – [Watch On-Demand] Southeastern (Fla.) used timely hitting and a complete-game shutout from Maria Zelenka to defeat Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 3-0 for a rematch against Madonna (Mich.) in the championship series tomorrow.
The game turned in the bottom of the third inning when Southeastern (51-9) manufactured two runs without recording an extra-base hit. Raylei McKinney opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Abby Franey for a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Erica Ramsey added an RBI single to right field to score Ella Brooks and extend the advantage to 2-0.
Southeastern added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Zelenka helped her own cause with an RBI single up the middle, scoring pinch runner Katie Short to make it 3-0.
Zelenka was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits and two walks over seven innings. She struck out three and threw 94 pitches, including 51 strikes, as Our Lady of the Lake was unable to generate sustained offense and left only four runners on base.
Our Lady of the Lake (47-13) used two pitchers in the loss. Annika Litterio took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits across three innings while striking out two. Valeria Vielma worked the final three innings and allowed one run on two hits.
The Saints managed only two hits in the game, one each from Arianna Alejandro and Boston Tijerina. Southeastern finished with five hits and committed one error, while Our Lady of the Lake also committed one error. McKinney, Ramsey, and Zelenka each recorded an RBI.
