Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire baseball team picked up their third win of the season this evening, and the third in a four-game series, against Mount Mercy University of Iowa, 8-3.
With bases empty, two outs and a three two count in the bottom of the first inning, senior Cody Hoffner hit a no-doubt ringer over the right-center fence to put the Fire up 1-0. Hoffner ended two for two on the evening adding a double in the sixth.
The Mustangs remained in the deficit until they manufactured two runs in the top of the fifth, and another in the sixth, to go up 3-1 after five and a half innings of baseball.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Fire bats came alive putting four runs on the board off of three hits to take the lead for good, 5-3.
Aldo Ferrante drove the first run of the inning in with a no-out, bases loaded single to center field. Then, with one out and bases loaded, designated hitter Corbin Weeks doubled down the left field line scoring Cody Hoffner and Willi Martin. Hunter Bonner crossed next after tagging up from third on a sac fly by Luis Diaz.
A leadoff homerun over the right field fence by T.J. Glessner put the Fire up 6-3 in the seventh and an Aaron Sheaks triple followed by a Diaz double set the Fire up to score twice more in the eighth.
Senior pitcher Jordan Gard gets the win for the Fire, taking the mound with two outs in the sixth, down 3-1. He allowed no runs on no hits and struck out six Mustang batters.
The Fire are set to play game four against Mount Mercy tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
