LAKELAND, Fla. – After a 6-0 sweep of its opening week of play, the No. 4 Southeastern University baseball team looks to continue building a team identify and rhythm with a full tab of games this week. The Fire host Ave Maria at Bill Phebus Field in Bartow in a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow before opening up Sun Conference play with a three game weekend series in Babson Park versus Webber International.
GAMES: No. 4 Southeastern (6-0) vs. Ave Maria (2-4) Tuesday 12:00/3:00 p.m.
No. 25 Webber International (1-4, 0-0 TSC) vs. No. 4 Southeastern (6-0, TSC)
Friday 6:00 p.m. | Saturday 12:00/3:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Ave Maria:
Live Video/Stats Webber International:
Live Video/Stats
FIRE SPEED: The Fire were active on the base paths in the opening week of action. Southeastern was 21-24 on stolen base attempts through the first six games. The 21 stolen bases ranks SEU seventh in the NAIA in swiped bags. Sophomore utility man
Vince Volpatti led the way for the Fire in speed, going a perfect 6-6 on stolen base attempts. His sixth stolen bases ranks him fourth in the NAIA.
BOTTARI BALL: Junior first baseman
Nick Bottari was a standout for SEU at the plate last week. The Hofstra transfer hit an astounding .733 at the plate (11-15), belted three homers, drove in 11 runs, and never struck out through the first six contests. His batting average ranks third in the NAIA, while his 1.400 slugging percentage ranks fourth in the NAIA through this past week of play. Bottari's three-run blast in the bottom of the third inning versus Brewton-Parker in game one on Friday proved to be the lone and game-winning runs batted in for SEU.
ALL-TIME: The Fire lead the all-time series versus the Gyrenes 20-7 and hold the slight edge versus the Warriors 23-21.
THE GYRENES: Ave Maria opened up its 2018 season dropping two of three to Taylor before heading to Hattiesburg, where they split a pair of games with Georgetown (Ky.) and dropped a lone contest to No. 6 William Carey 2-1. Junior infielder Tully Allen was the standout bat for the Gyrenes in the opening week. Allen hit .444 over three games in Hattiesburg this past weekend, and recorded a pair of multi-hit games. On the mound, senior righty Justin Bureau tossed six innings of shutout baseball with four punch outs, earning the decision in the 2-0 AMU win.
THE WARRIORS: No. 25 Webber International dropped a non-conference doubleheader to cross town rival Warner to open the season before losing two out of three at home to No. 12 Georgia Gwinnett. Senior outfielder Manny Rodriguez was named The Sun Conference Player of the Week after going 7-13 at the plate versus GGC, homering once, and driving in five runs. Webber International completed the sweep of weekly TSC honors with senior righty Juan Terron earning Pitcher of the Week for hurling six frames and striking out nine in the Warriors' lone win over the Grizzlies.
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