Box Score LAKELAND, FLA. — The Fire were able to take care of business Friday night in a Sun Conference doubleheader, taking down the Thomas University Night Hawks in the first game 6-2 and then taking the nightcap by a score of 8-5. With the wins, Southeastern improves to 6-2 in Sun Conference play and 13-6 overall.
Dominant pitching ruled the first game. Patrick Kinney of the Fire and Monte Reese of the Nighthawks found themselves in the middle of an old-fashioned pitching duel; Reese pitched six strong innings and striking out seven while Kinney gave the Fire seven innings and struck out nine. Although Kinney pitched one of his best games of the season, he still came away with the no-decision. Dylan Jameson (1-0) pitched the decisive eighth and ninth innings to close the door for the Fire. Out of the eight combined runs by both teams, only one run was earned. All six of SEU's runs were unearned, as the Nighthawk defense proved to be porous all evening. Five errors plagued the team, and the Fire took advantage of it. It was a 2-2 game until the bottom of the eighth. Josiel Colon started the rally by singling to left field. Ricky DeArmas reached on an error, and TJ Glessner was intentionally walked to set the table for a big inning. Stetson McCollin stepped up to be the hero with a 2-RBI single and gave the Fire their first lead of the game; a third run was scored on the play when the Nighthawks continued to kick the ball around and throw it all over the field. An ensuing double down the line by Aaron Sheaks plated McCollin, and the Fire never looked back. Sheaks proved to be a tough out for the whole night; he finished 3-5. Colon and Cody Hoffner had a couple hits each, and Glessner stole another two bases.
The second game was the same for the Fire, in terms of starting pitching. Jordan Gard (3-1) turned in a quality start for the Fire, going six innings, giving up three hits, one run (none earned), and striking out nine.
SEU scored three runs each in the second and third innings to quickly set the tone. A Sean Anderson single, DeArmas hit by pitch, and Glessner bunt single loaded the bases. Connor Oliveri drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and McCollin continued swinging the hot stick with another 2-RBI single.
In the bottom of the third, Willi Martin reached on an error, Diaz singled, and Anderson walked to load the bases again. This time, it was DeArmas that drove in some runs with a 2-RBI double to deep left-center field. By the end of the inning, it was 6-0 in favor of the Fire.
The rest of the scoring for the Fire came in the bottom of the fifth; DeArmas started things off with a single, and McCollin drove him in with a base knock of his own. After stealing second, he scored on a laser beam up the middle by Sheaks.
McCollin has been swinging a hot bat as of late, as he recorded a 3-5 night at the plate with three RBI's and two stolen bases. DeArmas finished 2-2 with two runs scored and two RBI's, and Hunter Bonner stole two bases of his own in the contest. Southeastern will be going for the sweep in the third and final game of the series. First pitch will take place Saturday at noon.
