LAKELAND, Fla. – After taking two of three on the road from Sun Conference rival Warner, the No. 7 Southeastern University baseball team is set to take its home field for the first time in 2017. SEU will host the Edward Waters College Tigers for a doubleheader at newly renovated Ted A. Broer Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Following the home series, SEU will hit the road to take on the Ave Maria University Gyrenes as they continue conference play.
GAMES: No. 7 Southeastern (28-3) vs. Edward Waters (14-10) Tuesday 2:00/4:30 p.m. | Ave Maria (16-18, 3-8 TSC) vs. No. 7 Southeastern (28-3, 8-1 TSC) Friday 2:00 p.m. Saturday 12:00/3:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Edward Waters:
Live Stats Video Ave Maria:
Live Stats Video
FIRE AWAY: SEU has established itself as a potent threat on both the mound and at the plate thus far. The Fire rank top 15 in the NAIA in 12 offensive categories. Included in that is total hits (332) in which Southeastern is eighth and total stolen bases (91) which ranks fourth. On the mound, no other team in the NAIA has struck out more batters than the SEU pitching staff. Fire arms have fanned a total of 294 batters and also boast a team ERA of 2.67, ranking fourth in the nation. The combination of timely hitting with excellency on the mound has created the recipe for a hot start to 2017.
TRIPLE THREAT: Senior infielder
Luis Diaz continues to fill out the stat sheet week after week for Southeastern. Diaz leads the NAIA in triples with seven on the season. No other player in the Sun Conference has more than three. With an on base percentage of .500, the leadoff man has plenty of opportunities to cross the plate, as he ranks second in the country in runs scored at 45. The Miami native also leads the team in stolen bases with 16 bags swiped on the season.
PREVIOUSLY EDWARD WATERS: This will be the first meeting between the Fire and the Tigers since 2014. SEU leads the all-time series 11-1 since joining the NAIA in 2009.
PREVIOUSLY AVE MARIA: SEU swept the weekend series versus the Gyrenes last season, outscoring AMU 35-9.
Derek Martin was 8-11 with six runs scored and seven runs batted in during the series. The Fire lead the all-time series 16-6 since joining the NAIA in 2009.
THE TIGERS: After posting a second consecutive season of 30 or more wins in 2016, Edward Waters looks to continue its recent run of success. The Tigers are currently on a hot streak, having won seven straight. EWC swept Marian (Ind.) in a four game set at home before taking both games of a doubleheader on the road versus RV South Carolina Beaufort. At the plate, the Tigers are led by junior infielder Jordan Pontious, who went 3-7 with two runs scored and a stolen base during the games against USCB. Senior righty Travis Coleman had a solid outing for Edward Waters versus the Sand Sharks, tossing seven frames, allowing just one earned run, and striking out five.
THE GYRENES: Ave Maria snapped a four game skid with a doubleheader sweep over Florida Memorial last Saturday. Junior catcher Rico Soto has been the key offensive threat for the Gyrenes. Soto is hitting .319 with four homers, 25 RBI, and leads the team in stolen bases with seven. AMU is led on the mound by the one two punch of redshirt senior Austin Munn and junior Andrew Steele, both right handed pitchers. Munn is 4-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 48 strikeouts while Steele is 4-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 42 punch outs.
