Box Score LAKELAND, Fla.- The Fire were able to shake off the cold and come away with their first Sun Conference win of the season, recording a 4-1 victory over Florida Memorial.
The Lions (2-3, 0-1 TSC) threatened early in the game with a runner on third and one out, but senior pitcher Patrick Kinney mowed down the next two batters with strikeouts. The Fire (7-2, 1-0 TSC) took a 1-0 lead when Stetson McCollin scored on a passed ball, after reaching on an error.
Southeastern didn't have its first hit until Cody Hoffner singled to left in the bottom of the third, but were unable to advance either of their baserunners that inning after a pair of groundouts. Luis Diaz hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the SEU lead to 2-0.
The Fire added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Aldo Ferrante and an RBI single by Stetson McCollin.
After walking the first two batters he saw, Kinney settled in and allowed just two hits after the third inning. Kinney improved to 3-0 after working seven innings, and allowing just one run on three hits, striking out three and walking four.
Following Kinney's departure, Dylan Jameson worked a 1-2-3 eighth, and Mike Ruppenthal came on to pick up his third save of the season, working a no-hit ninth inning.
The Fire finished the game with six stolen bases, but also were picked off or caught stealing three times.
Southeastern returns to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Lions beginning at noon.
