Fire Look to Make Run at TSC Tournament Title

LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 1 Southeastern University baseball team is coming off the cusp of history. With a series sweep against Thomas at home last weekend, the Fire clinched their first Sun Conference Regular Season Championship in program history. SEU now turns its sights to The Sun Conference Tournament, which will be played at FITTEAM Ballpark in West Palm Beach for the second consecutive year. Southeastern is the number one seed in the field of six teams, with a first round match-up versus a recently familiar sixth-seeded Thomas team.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
 

Time		Matchup
		Thursday, May 2
11:00 AM	GM 1	No. 1 Southeastern vs. No. 6 Thomas
2:30 PM	GM 2	No. 2 St. Thomas vs. No. 5 Warner
6:00 PM	GM 3	No. 3 Webber vs. No. 4 Keiser
		Friday, May 3
11:00 AM	GM 4	Loser GM 1 vs. Loser GM 2
2:30 PM	GM 5	Winnger GM 1 vs. Loser GM 3
6:00 PM	GM 6	Winner GM 2 vs. Winner GM 3
		Saturday, May 4
11:00 AM	GM 7	Winner GM 5 vs. Winner GM 6
2:30 PM	GM 8	Loser GM 6 vs. Winner GM 4
6:00 PM	GM 9	Loser GM 7 vs. Winner GM 8
		Sunday, May 5
11:00 AM	GM 10	Winner GM 7 vs. Winner GM 9
2:30 PM	GM 11	Winner GM 10 vs. Loser GM 10 (If Needed)

 
COVERAGE: LIVE STATS/VIDEO

FIRE FOCUS:

• The Fire have won seven-straight entering The Sun Conference Tournament, having outscored opponents 62-16 during that stretch.
• SEU leads The Sun Conference in 15 offensive statistical categories, including Team Batting Average (.359), Hits per Game (11.62), Stolen Bases per Game (1.96), and Doubles per Game (2.71).
• Southeastern has amassed an astounding 19 doubles over its last five games played. The Fire offensive lineup features nine bats with 10 or more doubles on the season.
• One of those SEU hitters is senior outfielder Manuel Mesa, who has recorded a team-leading 46 hits in Sun Conference play, including 18 for extra-bases. Mesa is the TSC overall leader in Runs Scored (66), Hits (97), Total Bases (166), and Stolen Bases (30). The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native also carries a 34-game hit streak into the conference tournament.
• The Fire lead The Sun Conference in six pitching statistical categories, including Team Earned Run Average (3.25), Opponent Batting Average (.233), and Batters Struck Out (468).
• In Sun Conference play, Fire arms have recorded 200 strikeouts in 199 innings pitched.
• In a team-leading eight Sun Conference starts, senior righty-handed pitcher Keven Long is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA and has struck out a team-best 46.
• Junior lefty Ryan Munoz has been a dependable arm out of the Fire bullpen as of late, surrendering just one run and one walk over his last 8.1 innings pitched in relief.

FIRING UP THE TSC TOURNEY:

• This marks Southeastern's eighth appearance in The Sun Conference Tournament since joining the NAIA in 2009. SEU sports a 14-11 all-time record in the tournament.
• SEU has won the postseason tournament twice: in 2014 and as recent as 2017.

THE NIGHT HAWKS:

• Southeastern swept Thomas in a three-game series at Ted A. Broer Stadium this past weekend, outscoring the Night Hawks 29-7.
• Prior to being swept by SEU, the Night Hawks had won four consecutive Sun Conference series.
• As a team, TU has hit .287 with 71 extra-base hits in TSC play.
• Senior infielder Chase Hinson has hit a team-leading .376 in conference action, recording nine doubles, two triples, and crossing the plate 22 times in league contests.
• TU has struggled on the mound, posting a 5.41 ERA and allowing 19 home runs in Sun Conference play.
• Junior righty Jorge Meran has been a bright spot for the Thomas pitching staff. In eight TSC starts, Meran has three wins, a 3.18 ERA, has struck out 50 hitters, and is allowing opponents to hit just .235.

Be sure to follow @SEUFireBaseball on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire baseball as they compete for The Sun Conference Tournament Championship!