Box Score LAKELAND, Fla.- The Fire won the first game of a doubleheader Saturday 3-2 over William Carey, before dropping the finale 9-3.
After winning a 1-run game Friday night against the Crusaders, the Fire trailed 2-0 heading to the bottom of the second inning when a groundout by Aldo Ferrante scored Luis Diaz, who singled to center earlier in the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sean Anderson hit a pinch-hit RBI single to center to score Hunter Bonner to tie the game at two. Aaron Sheaks followed with an RBI double off the right field fence to score T.J. Glessner, who ran for Anderson to give the Fire the lead.
Mike Ruppenthal came on to work a 1-2-3 seventh to earn his second save of the season. Clay Rideout worked the first five innings of the game, scattering three hits, and allowing two unearned runs. He also recorded four strikeouts and three walks. Dylan Jameson worked a scoreless inning between Rideout and Ruppenthal.
The Fire led the second game 2-0 heading to the sixth on an RBI double by Cody Hoffner in the third, and a solo homer to left by Hoffner. William Carey answered with two in the sixth on two hits and two errors, then added three runs on five hits in the seventh. The Fire recorded just four hits from the seventh inning on.
Southeastern scored its final run on an RBI double by Jose Povea off the center field fence.
Hoffner finished the day 4-for-7 with two RBIs and a run scored. Josiel Colon was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
The Fire next take the field on Friday, February 13th to open up Sun Conference play against Florida Memorial at 6 p.m.
