LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern had to overcome a quick start by its opponent in today's non-conference game and did so with 12 unanswered runs to pick up a 12-2 win.
New College of Florida got off to a hot start in the first inning, putting up two runs before starting pitcher
Cobe Reeves struck out their sixth batter in the lineup to end the top of the inning.
Cristopher Munoz gave the Fire a quick rebuttal by hitting a home run to left field on the first Banyans pitch of the game.
The second inning saw
Jake Cohen replace Reeves on the mound, where he allowed zero hits and secured three strikeouts. In the bottom of the second,
Josh Smith took advantage of Cohen's performance by tying the game 2-2 with a deep center field double that created a run for teammate
Landrey Wilkerson.
The Fire went through a carousel of pitchers during the match up as
Olvis Genao took over for Cohen in the top of the third. Genao worked a 1-2-3 frame to keep the game tied. With two Fire batters on bases,
Gary Lora hit a three-run homer to give Southeastern University their first lead of the day in the bottom of the inning.
After a strong inning from Genao,
Jaren Warwick had a turn at the mound to start the fourth. Warwick had two strikeouts before a pop-up hit to second base retired the side.
A quiet fourth inning from the Fire might have given the Banyans some momentum heading into the fifth, but the Southeastern defense held firm with their fifth pitcher of the day,
Colby Martin.
The Fire shut down any chance of a Banyan comeback in the fifth inning, exploding for four runs on five hits to make the score 10-2. Munoz and
Tommy Davis both hit doubles, while singles from Lora,
David Castillo, and
Alfonso Villalobos aided in the five-run stretch.
Their depth at pitcher on full display, the Fire sent out
Agnel Miranda and
Bryce McDonald in the final two innings of play. After shutting out New College of Florida in the sixth and seventh inning, pinch hitter
Edward Surinach hit a game-ending two-run homer.
Munoz, Castillo, and Lora collected two runs each. Lora led the team in RBIs with four. Including the second inning double that tied the game,
Josh Smith accounted for two of the Fire's 13 hits on the day.
The Fire will stay at home to face St. Thomas University on Thursday.
