Mella's Long Ball Helps Grab Game One Against Warriors

Box Score BABSON PARK, Fla.- In game one of a Top 15, Sun Conference showdown between the No. 1 Southeastern University and the No. 13 Webber International University, the Fire took the 8-3 victory to advance to a perfect 10-0 in SUN play.
 
Both offenses were held quiet through the first three innings until the Fire struck first after back-to-back doubles by Gary Lora and Sam Faith to take the 1-0 lead. A few batters later, Stephen Cullen reached on an error that allowed Faith to score from third, advancing the lead to two.
 
The Warriors responded quickly with two of their own in the bottom of the fourth off of a walk and a two run home run.
 
In the fifth, the Fire regained the lead after a leadoff single by Thomas Broyles, a walk, and a wild pitch setup an RBI situation for Isaac Nunez who gave the Fire the 3-2 lead after an RBI groundout.
 
An inning later, the Warriors again tied the contest after three singles brought home a run but the tie was short lived as Abdel Guadalupe again gave the Fire the lead after a single that allowed Jose Aquino to score from first base after another Warrior error.
 
The narrow 4-3 lead held until Adrian Mella registered his first long ball of the season in a pinch hit situation to collect three RBI's and give his team a more comfortable 7-3 lead. Brian Fuentes also got in on the long ball action as he sent his team leading 13^th home run over the left field fence just two batters later to secure the 8-3 lead and eventual victory.
 
DJ Roberts replaced Drew Gillespie in the seventh and retired all six batters he faced in relief to aid the Fire victory.
 
Gillespie advanced his individual record to 6-0 after going six innings and allowing three earned runs off of five hits and striking out four.
 
The Fire and the Warriors will finish the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at 12 and 3 p.m.