LAKELAND, Fla. – In the second game of a two game split played at Lake Bonny Park on Tuesday evening, the RV Southeastern University baseball team defeated the Spring Arbor University Cougars 5-4. With the win, the Fire are one of two teams in the NAIA who have reached 22 wins on the season, the other being Reinhardt (Ga.).
The Fire struck first against the Cougars in the bottom of the first, as senior catcher
Gerald Ceballos blasted a solo homer over the center field fence on a 2-2 count.
Spring Arbor responded with a run of their own in the top of the third, clawing one across on a fielder's choice.
SEU answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Ceballos went yard once again, launching another one past the outer reaches of center field.
The Rio Grande, PR native put on a clinic at the plate today, going 5-10 with four long balls between the two contests.
The Fire brought across two more runs in the bottom of the third by way of senior infielder
Alex Stephens stealing home, and redshirt-sophomore designated hitter
Derek Martin cranking a solo home run over the left field porch.
SAU drove in three runs in the next frame on four hits to tie things up 4-4.
The efforts of
Nate Harmon,
Jamal Wilson, and
Kade Wagner out of the bullpen helped keep the Fire in contention. The three arms that usually pitch as starters combined for 5.1 innings pitched of two hit baseball in relief.
Wagner was specifically electric. The 6-2 lefty from Riverton, Utah hurled three scoreless frames while fanning five Cougars and recording a pair of successful pickoffs.
SEU acquired the go ahead run in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball that scored Stephens.
Wagner closed out the Cougars to earn his fifth win of the season. He is 5-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 50 strikeouts thus far this season.
The Fire will jump right back into action tomorrow evening as they host Lawrence Tech University at Bartow High School. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
