LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern overcame a two-run deficit to come away with its seventh-straight opening day victory with a 6-4 win over Arizona Christian Wednesday night.
"I think this was a collective win from guys going out and extend pitch counts and battle," said coach
Adrian Dinkel.
The Firestorm (4-1) sent eight to the plate in the first inning, but managed just two unearned runs, getting a run on a fielding error and scoring on a wild pitch.
SEU starting pitcher
Robb Adams settled in and struck out three during the second and the bats generated a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by
Stephen Cullen.
ACU made it 3-1 with a leadoff homer by Marques Titialii in the third. Adams bounced back to retire the last six that he faced, getting a no decision in four innings of work with seven strikeouts and one walk.
David Mata came on in relief and allowed just one earned over 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and two walks and picked up the win.
"He did an unbelievable job, he didn't throw much last year and used his summer to change who he is and how he pitched," said Dinkel. "He's worked really hard and is such a good kid and love to see him have success like that."
Mata worked a scoreless fifth to set the stage for a four-run fifth on offense. A throwing error allowed Cullen to score on a ball hit by
Josh Pigozzo, which was followed by a two-run homer by
Nick Block to give the Fire a 4-3 lead.
Adonys Herrera picked up a two-out RBI single to extend the lead to two.
Pigozzo made it 6-3, scoring Cullen on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
The Firestorm generated a two-out run in the top of the seventh. It looked like the Fire had gotten the run back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out double to center by Herrera, but
Isaac Nunez was called out at third on an appeal play.
Andrew Long worked an inning and a third scoreless with three strikeouts and
Reece Wissinger picked up the save with a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.
Herrera finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Pigozzo and Block had two RBIs each.
The Fire will be back in action Thursday at 6 p.m. against Benedictine Mesa.
