Reigning National Champions Set 2023 Baseball Schedule

LAKELAND, Fla.- The 2023 schedule for the reigning NAIA Baseball World Series Champions, Southeastern University, has been released with a total of 47 regular season contests.
 
The Fire season will be highlighted by seven different NAIA Top 25 ranked opponents including three 2022 World Series teams in Bellevue, Webber International, and Lewis-Clark State.
 
In the 2022 season, the Fire claimed the program's second NAIA National Championship title and fourth Sun Conference title after a 59-4 overall record and 22-2 conference record. After going 3-0 though the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in the Upland Bracket, Southeastern secured their fourth consecutive trip to the Avista NAIA World Series. As the top seed in Lewiston, the Fire secured the championship title going 5-1, dropping only the championship contest by a score of 10-9 to No. 3 Lewis-Clark State to force the if-necessary game. The following day, the Fire claimed the title with an 11-5 victory over Lewis-Clark State.
 
Head coach Adrian Dinkel stated, "February is going to be a test of our ability to stay focused over a long period. We open the season with the two premier tournaments in the country with the East/West Challenge and the following week at the Cajun Collision. Then back that up with a big series against a premier club in Oklahoma Wesleyan. We look forward to the challenge."
 
February will kick off the new season as the Fire hosts the East/West Challenge from February 1^st to February 4^th. To open the season, the Fire will face off against Arizona Christian on the 1^st at 6 p.m. and will take on Benedictine University at Mesa the following day at 6 p.m. February 3^rd will see a rematch of the 2022 World Series Championship as the Fire will compete against No. 2 Lewis-Clark State after besting them for the title last season. The East/West Challenge will conclude with a contest against No. 16 Vanguard University on February 4^th at 11 a.m.
 
Southeastern will thenhead to the Cajun Collision in Sterlington, La. for four contests in two days. On February 10^th, the Fire will take on Baker University and No. 23 Loyola University with No. 14 Central Methodist and Louisiana Christian coming the following day.
 
Returning home, the Fire will host three contests against No. 17 Oklahoma Wesleyan University on February 16^th-18^th and will follow it up with a doubleheader against Point Park on the 24^th.
 
March will begin a 12-game home streak with four contests against Iowa Wesleyan on March 3^rd-4^th kicking off the home stretch. On March 11^th, the Fire will host an NAIA Top 10 matchup as they take on No. 5 ranked Bellevue, looking to advance their historical record of 4-0 against the Bears. The home stretch will see the opening of Sun Conference play as the Fire host No. 7 Webber International on March 17^th for a doubleheader with a single contest the following day.
 
The following weekend, Southeastern will hit the road to Lake Wales, Fla. to take on Warner University in a three-game conference series with a doubleheader on March 24^th and a single contest on March 25^th.
 
Ave Maria will be next on the Sun Conference schedule as they host the Fire for three games from March 31^st-April 1^st while Keiser University will travel to Lakeland for a doubleheader on April 7^th and single game on the 8^th.
 
The following weekend will see a Top 10 matchup as the Fire travel to Miami Gardens to take on No. 8 St. Thomas in a conference series battle.
 
The regular season will conclude with two home conference series against Florida Memorial on April 21^st-22^nd and Thomas University on April 28^th-29^th.
 
Dinkel said, "We're excited about this year's schedule and the slate of games that we play. We feel like we have gone out and put a schedule in place that is one of the best in the country, and in turn, will really challenge our guys."
 
Tickets for the 2023 baseball season will go on sale in January.