LAKELAND, FLA.-- The bats came out in full force Thursday afternoon, as the Fire easily handled the Ave Maria University Gyrenes, 16-2. The game was called after seven innings after the 10-run mercy rule was reached.
The offense scored at least one run in every inning and finished with 20 hits.
Chris Mattison had one of his best games of the year in the contest; the catcher went 4-5 with two home runs to boost his Sun Conference-leading total to 11 on the year. The junior hit a two-run shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the first, and later hit another one in the fourth.
Josiel Colon hit his first home run of the year in the bottom of the second. The outfielder finished 2-3 with two runs scored and four RBI's.
After two, the Fire were leading 3-0. In the bottom of the third, the scoring got started after Colon drove in
Angel Garced with a bases-loaded walk.
Mac LeBoeuf drove in two more with a single, then Colon scored on an error.
Marcus Guzman drove in one more with a fielder's choice; after the third, the Fire led 8-0.
The Gyrenes scored a couple of unearned runs off
Jordan Gard in the fifth. Gard pitched a complete game, going the full seven innings. The lefty improved to 5-2 after scattering seven hits and striking out three.
The Fire got five more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Zach Hessinger drove in
Aaron Sheaks with a sacrifice fly;
Derek Martin scored Garced with a single to left, and then
Luis Diaz singled to score
Hunter Bonner.
Josiel Colon capped off the rally with a two-run single. After a Garced fielder's choice scored Guzman, Southeastern's lead ballooned up to 16-2.
Martin finished 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Diaz was 3-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI; Guzman went 3-4 with a run and an RBI.
Southeastern improved to 20-14 overall and 4-6 in conference play. Ave Maria falls to 14-21 and 2-7 in conference.
The last two games of the series are set to take place on Saturday afternoon. Game times are set for noon and 3 p.m.
