LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 3 Southeastern University Fire baseball team capitalized on a monstrous eighth inning at the plate to help propel SEU to a 10-3 victory over the No. 21 Reinhardt University Eagles in the series finale Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Fire earned the series sweep and improved to 8-0 on the season.
The Eagles struck first, tacking one one via an RBI-single in the top of the second before growing their lead to 2-0 with another RBI-single in the top of the fifth.
In a no decision, SEU starter
Juan Pimentel went 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, walking two, and striking out five.
The Fire evened things up 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. First,
Brandon Dorsey was walked home after
Abdel Guadalupe drew a base on balls with the bases loaded. Later in the frame,
Sam Faith lifted a deep fly ball to center field that was deep enough to bring
Isaac Nunez across the plate to score.
RU regained the lead in the top of the seventh after Patrick Baggett led off the inning with a solo home run to center field to put the Eagles back on top 3-2.
With the Fire trailing the Eagles 3-2 in the top of the eighth, senior right-handed pitcher
Ronnie Voacolo took the mound for Southeastern and was dominate in crunch time. The Hamilton, N.J. native closed out the final two frames allowing just one hit, one walk, and striking out four of the eight batters he faced.
The Fire bats blitzed the Reinhardt bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning, forcing RU to throw four different pitchers in the frame as the Fire tacked on eight runs on six hits to go ahead 10-3.
Voacolo went on to earn the winning pitching decision.
Senior Fire catcher
Luis Cabrera threw out two runners who attempted stealing on his watch throughout the game. Cabrera has now thrown out seven of the 14 runners who have attempted stealing on his watch.
The Fire will head to Ave Maria this upcoming Tuesday for a non-conference single contest against the Gyrenes at 1:00 p.m.
