LAKELAND, Fla. – After scoring 39 runs in their season-opening series sweep of Columbia International, the No. 1 Southeastern University baseball team prepares to host the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats for a four game series today and tomorrow. Each day will consist of a doubleheader with the first game being nine innings and the second contest seven.
FIRE FOCUS:
- The Fire won in dramatic fashion in both games of their doubleheader on Saturday versus Columbia International.
- Pedro Castellano came up with big at-bats, hitting the walk-off three-run home run to win the first game 7-5 and hit another three-run homer in game two to tie it at 15 in the bottom of the eighth.
- Sam Faith was named Sun Conference Player of the Week after hitting .556, slugging 1.111 after hitting a home run and driving in eight runs.
- Outfielder Carter Bridge also had an impressive start to his season as he .545 batting average with two home runs and seven RBIs during the three-game set.
- Jack Wolgast was integral in SEU's 16-15 victory, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out six batters to close the game and earn the win.
- Drew Gillespie also pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and only gave up one hit while recording four strikeouts.
THE WILDCATS:
- Indiana Wesleyan opens up their 2021 campaign in Lakeland after going 10-9 in the shortened 2020 campaign.
- The last time IWU made the NAIA Opening Round was 2018, the same year head coach Rich Benjamin was named Crossroads League Coach of the Year.
- This season, the Wildcats return all nine of their hitters who hit .300 or better in 2020, including graduate outfielder Tye Thixton, who belted a monstrous .491 (26-53), with four doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs, and was a perfect 6-6 on stolen bases throughout the shortened season.
- On the mound, Indiana Wesleyan returns a key arm in six-foot left-handed pitcher Austin Swift. In 19 innings pitched last season, Swift was 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and a .194 opponent batting average.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireBaseball on Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest updates on Fire baseball!
