Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – In the first of a three game TSC series this afternoon, the Fire defeated the Gyrenes of Ave Maria, 5-3.
Patrick Kinney tossed seven and a third innings and earned the win for the Fire. He allowed two runs on four hits and five free passes while striking out five. Chase Hunt and F.T. Corso each made an appearance in the eighth before Dylan Jameson took over for the save.
Southeastern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when a dropped third strike and putout at first allowed T.J. Glessner to score from third who walked to lead off the inning.
Two scoreless innings followed before Ricky DeArmas and Sean Anderson teamed up in the top of the fourth to put the Fire's second run on the board. With one out, DeArmas doubled to right-center field then scored on a single off the bat of Anderson.
The Gyrenes scored their first run in the fifth to cut the deficit in half.
A scoreless sixth inning led to three Fire runs in the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third, Luis Diaz doubled down the left field line to cross two. Then Willi Martin singled to score Diaz and put the Fire up 5-1.
Hunt took the mound with one out and one on in the bottom of the eighth and allowed back-to-back Gyrene singles that resulted in two runs. He gave up a third single before Corso was called from the bullpen. A walk to load the bases and another pitching change put Jameson on the mound who forced a fly out to end the inning.
Six Fire batters recorded multiple hits and collectively outhit the Gyrenes 13 to seven.
The two teams will take to the diamond again tomorrow for a double header starting at 11 a.m.
