BARTOW, Fla. – The No. 7 Southeastern University baseball team continued its impressive run in the 2017 campaign by sweeping a doubleheader versus the Purdue Northwest Pride by scores of 4-2 and 5-2. With the wins, the Fire are the first team in the NAIA to reach 25 victories on the season.
The Fire overcame a hitting performance that was below their typical standards, hitting a collective .279 at the plate today (12-43).
In both games, the Pride struck first, scratching across a single run in the top of the first in each contest.
In game one, the Fire found themselves trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the third when redshirt sophomore designated hitter
Derek Martin singled home
Alex Stephens to knot things up 2-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, SEU scored the go ahead run via the sacrifice fly by senior outfielder
Marcus Guzman that scored Martin. The Fire added to their lead on the wild throwing error by Pride shortstop Jake Lindeman that allowed
Kainalu Pitoy to cross home.
Senior right handed pitcher
Jamal Wilson posted his second straight solid start. The Tampa native tossed five innings, allowing one earned run, and punching out eight. In his last two starts, Wilson is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
Senior righty
John Jaeger shut down the Pride in the top of the seventh, striking out one and earning his third save of the season.
In game two, junior outfielder
Jadan Garcia was the catalyst for the Fire offense. Garcia was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a run scored and two runs batted in. His single in the bottom of the third scored
Marcus Stump and gave the Fire a 4-1 lead.
Junior righty
Chris Colletti entered the top of the seventh looking to preserve a 5-2 lead and did so successfully, striking out one and picking up his first save of the season.
Senior right handed pitcher
Nate Harmon was electric in his game two start. Harmon hurled five innings, walked only one, and struck out 10, tying his SEU career high. With the win, he improved to 5-1 on the season.
The Southeastern pitching staff combined for 20 strikeouts and just two earned runs on the day.
"Our pitching gave us a chance to win. That's all we can ask for. They've got to pick us up when the offense is down and the defense is bad," shared Head Coach
Adrian Dinkel.
The Fire jump right back into action tomorrow afternoon for a slate of two seven inning games at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale. The first game against Concordia (Mich.) is set for 2:30 p.m. The second game versus Mt. Marty will take place at 7:30 p.m.
