LAKELAND, Fla. – Dropping two out of three to No. 4 St. Thomas this past weekend, the No. 3 Southeastern University baseball team lost its first Sun Conference series of the season. The series featured an explosion of offense, as both teams combined to amass a total of 15 home runs and 67 hits over the three-game span. With a 22-2 conference record, SEU finished as 2018 TSC Regular Season runners-up. Before the Fire can set their sights on The Sun Conference Tournament, they are tasked with a road doubleheader versus Edward Waters College to conclude the regular season slate.
GAMES: Edward Waters (25-21) vs. No. 3 Southeastern (48-5) Tuesday 1:00/4:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: Live Stats
J.P. Small Memorial Stadium: The Fire will compete in a historic facility. Home of EWC baseball, the stadium was originally constructed in 1912, but has been renovated several times since (most recently in 2006). From 1914-1922 the facility played host at different times to Major League Baseball Spring Training for the Philadelphia Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and Brooklyn Dodgers. During the field's time as a venue for the Negro League and minor league baseball, National Baseball Hall of Famers such as Hank Aaron, Leroy "Satchel" Paige, Roy Campanella, James "Cool Papa" Bell and William "Judy" Johnson competed on the field.
SETTING THE RECORD BOOKS ABLAZE: The Fire have already set numerous program records on the season, including new team marks in win streak (23), home win streak (19), and home runs (82). With a sweep of Edward Waters, the Fire would tie the program record of 50 wins set last season and eclipse the high mark in season win percentage (.909). On the mound, SEU is on pace to set a new records for Team ERA (3.20), fewest runs allowed (197), and opponent batting average (.218). With 74 runs batted in, junior utility man
Dan Valerio is one RBI shy of setting a new single-season program-best, while junior outfielder
Marvin Malone is two long balls away from tying the mark in homers. Junior lefty
Jonathan Bermudez needs one more win to tie the SEU single-season record at 13.
BATTER'S EYEVAN: Junior infielder
Ivan Nunez has been consistent at the plate as of late. The Miami native has batten in a run in six straight contests, with 11 total RBIs during that stretch. Versus St. Thomas over the weekend, Nunez was 7-9 at the plate. In his last 24 at-bats, Nunez has only struck out twice and is averaging a walk per contest over his last 10 games played. His batting average on balls in play this year is .414.
FIRE ALL-TIME: Game one of the doubleheader will mark the 20
th meeting all-time between the Fire and the Tigers. SEU leads the all-time series 17-9, having not lost to EWC since 3/20/10. In the 19 contests, Southeastern has outscored Edward Water by an average of 4.5 runs. SEU took both games earlier this season in Lakeland versus the Tigers by scores of 16-5 and 9-2. SEU hit 11 home runs between the two contests.
THE TIGERS: Fresh off dropping two of three on the road to Brewton-Parker, Edward Waters is 3-7 over its last 10 games played. The EWC pitching staff has struggled as of late, surrendering an average of 9.8 runs and 3.2 extra-base hits over its last five. The Tigers are 3-12 versus Sun Conference opponents this season. Senior infielder Jordan Pontious has remained a steady producer at the plate. The Ormand Beach native has recorded a base hit in 18 of his last 19 contests and has not struck out in 47 straight at-bats.
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