LEWISTON, Idaho- A huge bounce back win for Southeastern highlighted by a 12-run offensive day, gives the Fire their first World Series win of 2024, defeating Cumberlands in an elimination game by a score of 12-5.
The Fire wasted no time getting things started in this game, plating home at least one run throughout the first five innings of play.
Cristopher Munoz scored the first run of the day on a wild pitch after hustling out an infield single and stealing second and third base.
Luis Gonzalez added two RBIs to his name on the day with a single in the second inning, and a sac fly in the fourth.
Gary Lora sent two across to score as well, once in the third and once in the eighth, both on singles.
The Patriots of Cumberlands scored their first run of the day in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly, which the Fire were able to respond with three more runs in the bottom half, thanks to RBIs from
Josh Pigozzo,
Chayce Bryant and
Landrey Wilkerson.
The change in approach on offense for Southeastern proved impactful, sending home 12 runs as opposed to three from their loss earlier in the series.
Tommy Davis, who led the team with three hits today, said the difference maker was simply, "trying to have fun and put balls in play."
Davis was one of three players with multi-hit days, joined in company by Lora, Wilkerson, and
Alfonso Villalobos. Villalobos was also one of four players with a multi-RBI day, along with Lora, Bryant and Gonzalez.
Robb Adams earned his ninth win of the season, and 30th in his career at SEU, allowing four earned over 5.1 innings, striking out five Patriots. Adams too noticed the difference in the Fire offense today, claiming, "it made my job really easy… to attack early and go straight at these guys."
Jake Cohen finished things off with three innings of shutout work, earning his first save on the season.
Looking to tomorrow, the Fire will face the winner of tonight's game featuring Tennessee Wesleyan and Georgia Gwinnett. Adams says regardless of who they play, "tomorrow is a new day, and we have to show up and apply the pressure."
First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 PDT.
