Fire Fend Off Eagles in Chaotic Ninth Inning

The Fire advanced to 7-0 on the season, maintaining their perfect record after a scare from the visiting Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles who are now 4-3.

    The Fire were confident, coming home from Arizona after posting three dominant Top 20 victories. Darien Smith took the mound this evening, in the first game of this three game series, the starting pitcher threw 80 pitches over five innings, and struck out 10 batters to record his third win in as many appearances. Catcher Pablo Lanzarote had only positive things to say about Smith. "He did everything the coaches asked from the dugout… he never gave up."

    Lanzarote was the standout hitter, going 2-2, and scoring a run on a passed ball in the seventh inning, crediting his success to the Fire baseball team, "They kept me locked in."

    The game started a little slow, neither team scoring or recording a hit until the second inning as the Eagles reached first on a Southeastern fielding error. Nothing came of it as a fly out ended the inning. Left fielder Josh Smith singled through the left side to record the first hit but was caught stealing and the next batter grounded out ending the inning.

    A quick inning for the Eagles that included a single opened the door back again to the Fire. Lanzarote notched his first hit of the game, then Tommy Davis made his presence known blasting a home run 390 feet over the left field wall and into Victory Field. Three pitches later, Josh Pigozzo rocketed his fourth home run of the season in the same direction as Davis, opening up the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third.

    The score would remain that way until the sixth when Landrey Willkerson was batted home thanks to an RBI double from shortstop Isaac Nunez. Nunez would add the fifth run of the game sprinting across home plate as a pitch from the Eagles made it past the catcher. The Fire would advance to the seventh inning stretch up 5-0.

    In the bottom of the seventh Chayce Bryant pinch hit and singled to shortstop. A fielder's choice advanced Lanzarote who doubled for his second hit of the game and came around to score on a double steal. 

    Oklahoma Wesleyan notched their first run of the game in the top of the eighth as a RBI double brought a runner home. 6-1 remained the score, favoring the Fire going into the top of the ninth. The Eagles would then put up four runs, going through three SEU pitchers in the final half inning, blasting a three-run homer over the center field wall to bring the game within one. 

    The Fire brought in All-American closer Reece Wissinger who picked up his second save of the season on three pitches to record the final out. 

    The Fire return to action tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. preparing to take on Oklahoma Wesleyan in the second game of a three game series versus the Eagles.