JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the regular season finale, the No. 11 Southeastern University Fire swept a doubleheader versus the Edward Waters College Tigers. The Fire took down the Tigers in game one 4-1 before mashing their way to an 11-7 victory in the second game. SEU finished with its highest regular season win total (44) since joining the NAIA in 2009.
WHAT FUELED THE FIRE:
Game 1- Senior catcher
Gerald Ceballos went yard in his first two at bats. The Rio Grande, PR native hit a two run shot in the top of the first followed by a solo blast in the top of the third that put the Fire up 3-0. The senior trio of Ceballos,
Luis Diaz, and
Marcus Guzman were responsible for all the SEU hits and RBI.
Game 2: A monster first inning proved to be the difference maker for the Fire. SEU scored six runs on six hits, including three long balls to kick off the contest. The six runs were the most Southeastern has scored in the first inning this season.
Ceballos hit his third homer of the day and team best 15
th of the season to ignite the rest of the lineup. In his return from an absence due to injury,
Derek Martin flexed one over the right field fence. Guzman capped off the early power surge with a three run shot.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
Game 1- The Tigers were threatening in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second, nobody out, and the Fire holding to a 3-1 lead. EWC left fielder Miguel Beltre doubled to deep right center. Junior outfielder Kianalu Pitoy fielded the ball, rifled one to
De'John Suber, who relayed the throw to Ceballos at the plate, who then rapidly applied the tag on the Edward Waters runner before he crossed.
The putout recorded a crucial first out which was followed by a pair of punch outs by senior closer
John Jaeger. The play also helped preserve the first win of the season for senior righty
Mike Ruppenthal.
Game 2: After surrendering a three run homer in the bottom of the sixth which brought the Tigers to within four of the Fire lead, junior right handed pitcher
Matt Matre retired six straight EWC batters to close out the game. Matre recorded all four of his strikeouts during that stretch.
OTHER NOTABLES:
Game 1- Jaeger earned his ninth save of the season after hurling two frames of two hit baseball and fanning three. He finishes the regular season as the Sun Conference leader in saves.
Game 2- Pitoy was a perfect 4-4 at the plate, including a two run blast he rocketed over the center field fence in the top of the sixth. The Manoa, Hawaii native has now raised his batting average to .301 on the year.
NEXT FOR THE FIRE:
The Fire now face an eight day layoff as they anticipate the kickoff of the 2017 TSC Tournament. The number two seeded SEU will face the fifth seeded South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks in the first round on Friday May 5 at 3:00 p.m. in Ft. Meyers.
