LAKELAND, Fla. – After a stretch of 17 non-conference games in a span of 18 days, in which the Fire went 16-1, the No. 1 Southeastern University baseball team is set to return to Sun Conference play. SEU travels to Lake Wales this weekend for a three-game series against the upward-trending No. 21 Warner University Royals.
SERIES: No. 1 Southeastern (27-3, 6-0 TSC) at No. 21 Warner (27-9, 7-2 TSC) Friday 6:00 p.m. | Saturday 12:00/3:00 p.m.
COVERAGE: WATCH/LIVE STATS
FIRE FOCUS:
- Southeastern has outscored its opponents 116-25 over its last 10 games played.
- The second inning has been the frame of separation for the Fire thus far, as SEU has outscored opposing teams 60-4 in the second inning.
- The Fire average 4.9 runs scored through the first three innings of play per game, while opponents are averaging just 3.4 runs scored against Southeastern in the entire contest.
- As a unit at the plate, Southeastern leads the NAIA in nine offensive categories, amongst those are hits per game (11.87), home runs per game (1.93), and team batting average (.374).
- Junior outfielder Abdel Guadalupe is coming off being named The Sun Conference Player of the Week. Guadalupe hit a dynamic .519 at the plate over eight games this past week with 14 runs scored, 13 runs batted in, and four home runs to push his season total on long balls to 10. Additionally, the Fajardo, Puerto Rico native posted a monstrous 1.692 on-base plus slugging percentage and only struck out three times in 27 at-bats while recording hits in every contest.
- On the mound, the SEU pitching staff ranks third nationally in total batters struck out (259) and 14th in opponent batting average (.226).
- Junior right-handed pitcher Jayden Hartle has surrendered just six runs in 32 innings pitched, which ranks 15th in the NAIA.
SOAK UP THE SUN:
- The Fire are 46-8 all time in Sun Conference play under head coach Adrian Dinkel.
- Southeastern has outscored TSC opponents 86-20 this season.
- As an offensive unit, SEU is hitting .402 at the plate with 28 extra-base hits in conference play this year.
- On the mound in 2019, Fire arms have compiled a 3.00 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched against TSC opponents.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
- The Fire lead the all-time series versus the Royals 23-15, having won six-straight regular season conference series against Warner.
THE ROYALS:
- Warner is off to a dynamic 27-9 start, collecting seven wins over NAIA ranked or receiving votes opponents and having yet to drop a Sun Conference series.
- On the mound, the Royals have logged more innings than any other team in the NAIA (283.2) and lead the country in batters struck out (304).
- WU has been aggressive on the base paths thus far, leading the NAIA in total stolen bases (81). Four different players have swiped 10 or more bags for Warner.
- Junior catcher Alex Vasquez leads the country in runs batted in (47). Vasquez has homered four times in his last five games played.
- Senior outfielder Xanders Vazquez is hitting .565 at the plate over his last five outings, having crossed the plate nine times and driven in seven runs during that stretch.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Runs per Game: 10.9
Team Batting Average: .374
Hits per Game: 11.9
Home Runs per Game: 1.9
Stolen Bases per Game: 2.1
Batters Struck Out per Game: 8.6
Team ERA: 3.21
Opponent Batting Average: .226
Individual Hits Leader:
Manuel Mesa (51)
Individual RBI Leader:
Ivan Nunez (36)
Individual Home Run Leader:
Abdel Guadalupe (10)
Individual Stolen Bases Leader:
Manuel Mesa (18)
Individual Batters Struck Out Leader:
Jayden Hartle (38)
Individual Wins Leader:
Keven Long (5)
Individual Saves Leader:
Heibert Romero (2)
WU
Runs per Game: 7.2
Team Batting Average: .314
Hits per Game: 9.7
Home Runs per Game: .6
Stolen Bases per Game: 2.25
Batters Struck Out per Game: 8.4
Team ERA: 4.35
Opponent Batting Average: .271
Individual Hits Leader: Scott Fickas (47)
Individual RBI Leader: Alex Vazquez (47)
Individual Home Run Leader: Alex Vasquez (8)
Individual Stolen Bases Leader: Ronny Penalo (17)
Individual Batters Struck Out Leader: Michael Batten (54)
Individual Wins Leader: Andres Fernandez (5)
Individual Saves Leader: Ryan Klingler (2)
Be sure to follow @SEUFireBaseball on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire baseball!
