Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Lakeland, Fla. – The No. 3 Southeastern University baseball team battled its way to a weekend sweep of the Warner University Royals. The Fire took both games of a Saturday doubleheader to improve to 37-2 on the season, including a perfect 12-0 in Sun Conference play. SEU took game one 7-3 before walking off versus Warner 10-9 in the second contest.
The Fire got on the board first in the opening game in the bottom of the second, when junior infielder
Ivan Nunez launched a solo home run over the left field fence to put SEU ahead 1-0.
Southeastern tacked on two more in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI single by junior outfielder
Marvin Malone that drove in
Manuel Mesa, and a throwing error that later allowed Malone to cross.
The Royals ended a 16 and one third scoreless streak to open the series in the top of the eighth when they scored on a balk that trimmed the Fire lead to 4-1.
Junior utility man
Dan Valerio provided insurance runs for the Fire in the bottom of the eighth, via a three-run shot to left field that put SEU ahead 7-1.
Between both games of the doubleheader, Valerio went .444 at the plate (4-9) with two homers and nine RBIs.
The Royals attempted a rally in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer. However, senior righty
Adrian Rivera silenced the comeback attempt to preserve the game one win.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Jordan Scott turned in another respectable outing, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out nine. Scott did not allow a Warner baserunner to advance past second.
Unlike the previous two contests of the series, the Fire faced an early deficit. Warner struck first in the top of the second with a two-run homer by junior infielder Kevin Troncoso.
RBI groundouts by junior infielder
Dominic Anagnos and Valerio, as well as an RBI double by Nunez provided the SEU answer in the bottom of the third to put the Fire on top 3-2.
Four hits and an error allowed Warner to respond in the top of the fifth with a four run inning to regain the lead 6-3.
However, the Fire would not be outdone. Southeastern tacked on five in the bottom half of the frame, one via error and four due to a grand slam home run to left field by Valerio.
Troncoso's second long ball of the contest coupled with a bases-loaded walk tied things up 8-8 in the top of the eighth.
An RBI groundout by Troncoso gave the Royals the go ahead run 9-8 in the top of the ninth.
The Fire had one more rally left in their arsenal. An RBI double by Valerio scored
Alex Aristy to tie things up 9-9. With the bases loaded, a fielder's choice with the bases loaded off the bat of sophomore utility man
Vince Volpatti brought Nunez home and earned SEU the walk-off victory.
In his second relief appearance of the day, junior southpaw
Felix Dieguez earned the win, tossing one and one third and striking out one to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Fire trek on in TSC play, as they travel to West Palm Beach next weekend to take on Keiser. The series opener is slated for Friday at 2:00 p.m.
