LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 2Â Southeastern University baseball team made a statement win over the No. 19 Freed-Hardeman University Lions 10-3 in the first of a four-game series Thursday night.
The Fire struck in the bottom of the first on a solo home run to center field by junior outfielder
Thomas Broyles, his first of the season. An error allowed another SEU run to score in the frame, putting the FIre ahead of the Lions 2-0.
Southeastern put three more across on Freed-Hardeman in the bottom of the second. The Fire first got a two-run home run to center field off the bat of senior catcher
Benito Varela, his fourth of the season. The Fire grew their advantage to 5-0 over the Lions later in the inning on an RBI-single through the right side by Broyles that scored
Anthony Carrera.
After the Lions got a run across in the top of the fourth, the Fire got it back on a bases-loaded walk to go up 6-1.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Jayden Hartle was dynamic for SEU on the mound in the start, tossing seven innings strong, where he allowed just the one run in the fourth, walked none, and struck out 10. Hartle struck out the side in the top of the fifth. On the night, the Lions were just 1-6 at the plate with runners on versus Hartle.
An RBI single through the left side by senior outfielder
Pedro Castellano scored Bottari and put the Fire ahead 7-1. The Fire tacked on three more in the bottom of the seventh to open up the contest more 10-1.
A rally by the Lions in the top of the ninth fell short, as FHU was only able to scratch two runs across.
Varela finished the night 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Carrera was 3-5 with two runs scored. Broyles went 2-4 with RBIs and two runs scored.
The Fire look to earn two more wins, as they host the Lions in a doubleheader tomorrow at 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. Game one will be played as a nine inning contest with game two set for seven innings.
