LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University Royals (21-8, TSC 4-2) split a Sun Conference double header against the Southeastern University Fire (24-11, TSC 3-3).

GAME 1 - Avery Cotterill Drops Perfect Bunt To Score Cortney Bunker For Walkoff Win

Game 1 was a pitching duel between both the Royals and the fire. Both pitchers set out in search of their 11^th season win. The Fire scored in the 3^rd and 6^th innings taking a 2-0 lead over the Royals. Faced with defeat in the bottom of the 7^th, the Royals scored two of their own to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Megan Hammett shot a single to center field with bases loaded to score Avery Cotterill. Kayla Bruno then tied things up with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Madison Taylor and knotted things up at 2-2. The game stayed tied and headed into the 8^th inning. With the extra inning speed up play in effect, a runner is placed on 2^nd base to start the inning. Sylvia Welsh went to work for her 8^th inning of pitching and produced a fly ball and two groundouts back to back to close out the Fire 1-2-3. Cortney Bunker was the Royals runner placed on 2^nd base to start the bottom of the 8^th. Chantal Crockett singled on a bunt to start the inning and that moved Bunker to 3^rd base. Crockett advanced on a stolen bag to give the Royals runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. Sara Bruno stepped in and shot a hard line drive that was caught at first for the first out. Avery Cotterill stepped in and dropped down a flawless bunt, even with the infielders playing in, it gave Bunker enough time to scamper home for the game winning run! The Royals took game 1 with a final score of 3-2.

Sylvia Welsh won her 11^th game of the season improving to 11-1. She threw 8 innings giving up only 5 hits, 2 runs 1 earned, walking 2 and striking out 3.

Game 2 – Royals and Fire combine For 26 Hits, Royals Fall 1-Run Shy

The Fire took a 3 run lead in the top of the 3^rd inning. In the bottom of the 3^rd inning, Cortney Bunker reached on a fielder's choice. Chantal Crockett stepped in and followed up with a single to left center. The Sun Conference leading RBI and 5^th ranked NAIA D-I RBI leader Sara Bruno stepped in and hit a line drive homerun (8) over the left field fence to even out the score at 3-3. The Fire pushed another run across in the top of the 4^th taking a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the 4^th, Megan Hammett led things off with a single. Kayla Bruno doubled into left field scoring Hammett. Later in the inning with Cortney Bunker and Kasey Heslin on 1^st and 2^nd, Chantal Crockett scorched a ball into right center for a stand up triple and 2 RBI giving the Royals the 6-4 lead. The Fire scored another 3 runs in the top of the 5^th and then held the Royal scoreless. The Royals left 5 runners on base in the bottom of the 5^th and 6^th innings.

With the split double header, the Royals move to 21-8 overall and 4-2 in The Sun Conference tying them with Webber International University (12-7, TSC 4-2). Monday is the next double header for the Royals as the travel to Webber to take on the Warriors. Both teams tied at 4-2 in The Sun Conference, trail Thomas University who is 22-6 overall and 6-0 in TSC play.