Batcher Dominates in SUN Series Win

AVE MARIA, Fla.- Southeastern baseball moved to 35-2 and 8-1 in Sun Conference play today after splitting the doubleheader with Ave Maria University, dropping game one 6-5 and taking game two and the series 7-2.
 
In game one, a long ball by Isaac Nunez on just the second batter of the game gave the Fire an early lead but the Gyrenes answered with a home run of their own after a single and stolen base, taking a 2-1 lead over the No. 1 Fire.
 
In the Fire's next at bat, a Gary Lora single and wild pitch set up an RBI double for Jose Marcano, tying the contest.
 
An error to kick off the bottom of the third advanced the lead off man into scoring position. The eventual go-ahead run moved one base away after a flyball and scored on an RBI groundout as the Gyrenes regained their lead.
 
Chayce Bryant then tipped the scales again in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to move the score to 4-3 in favor of the Fire.
 
The Gyrenes then tied the contest with four consecutive singles and took an 6-4 advantage after a two-run single with one out.
 
Southeastern's comeback effort fell just short as they moved the contest within one in the top of the ninth with an RBI sacrifice fly by Josh Pigozzo but a strikeout and groundout would hand the Fire their second loss of the season.
 
Robb Adams took the loss after going 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits, and striking out four.
 
Game two of the day saw a dominating performance by Danny Batcher (7-0) after allowing just one hit in eight innings of work and striking out six.
 
The Fire again struck first with three runs in the top of the first off an RBI double by Nunez, Lora RBI groundout, and second home run of the day by Chayce Bryant.
 
Lora then added two more to the Fire lead with an RBI single in the top of the third and sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. An error on the same play allowed another Fire run to cross, moving the Fire lead to 6-0.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Fire loaded the bases for Adrian Mella who drew a walk to put the Fire up by seven.
 
The Gyrenes then scratched out two in the bottom of the ninth off two walks, a wild pitch, and balk by the Fire's new arm but two strikeouts and a groundout would clinch the series for the Fire.
 
Reece Wissinger came on with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and struck out two to preserve the Fire win.
 
Nunez concluded game two 3-5 with three runs scored while Lora tallied three RBI's.