LEWISTON, Idaho – The Southeastern University baseball team is making history at the 2018 Avista-NAIA World Series. However, the fifth-seeded Fire are not finished yet. Fifth-seeded SEU is fresh off a momentous 6-4 win over the top-seeded Faulkner University Eagles, a team that has finished as runners-up in each of the previous World Series. The Fire are now tasked with the seventh-seeded Freed-Hardeman University Lions in the winner's bracket.
GAME: (5) Southeastern (56-7, 2-0 WS) vs. (7) Freed-Hardemen (46-14, 3-0 WS)
Tuesday 9:30 p.m. EDT
COVERAGE: LIVE STATS LIVE VIDEO (Fees Apply)
TRAIL BLAZING: The Fire lead the World Series field in stolen bases, swiping eight-of-nine on the base paths. Junior outfielder
Marvin Malone leads the entire field with three stolen bases. The Fire feature seven different players with 10 or more swiped bags, with the team leader in stolen bases is junior outfielder
Manuel Mesa, who is 34-42 on the season. Sixty percent of Southeastern baserunners who have stolen a base this World Series have crossed the plate later in the inning.
THE EYE OF THE FIRE: The SEU offense has displayed an excellent batter's eye throughout the tournament. The Fire lead the World Series field in team batting average (.348), slugging percentage (.522), and have amassed more extra-base hits than any non-eliminated team in Lewiston (9). Mesa has recorded three consecutive three-hit contests. The Bronx, N.Y. native has scored 35.7% of Southeastern runs this World Series.
THE LIONS: Freed-Hardeman knocked off sixth-seeded host school Lewis-Cark State 5-4 last night in a game where all runs were scored in opening frame. Pitching has helped propel the Lions to a favorable position in the tournament. The 2.67 FHU pitching staff ERA ranks second amongst remaining program in the tournament. Freshman infielder Josh Sears is hitting .500 in the World Series. The long ball by Scott versus Northwestern Ohio earlier in the World Series was his team best 20
th, which ranks fifth on the season in the NAIA. FHU also features a top closer in senior righty Beau Caviness, who shut down the Warriors last night in the later frames to record his NAIA-leading 17
th save of the season. He is 2-2 on save opportunities in Lewiston.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireBaseball on Twitter for all of the latest updates from Lewiston.
