LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire found a way to win one that looked like it was lost late. Tyler Hinrikus blasted a grand slam and provided the Southeastern University late-inning magic in the 13-9 victory in 10 innings over St. Francis University (Ind.) today at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
The Fire were down 7-0 coming to bat in the seventh inning and scored four runs to cut into the lead. Both teams were scoreless in the 8th before the Cougars added a run in the top of the 9th to push their lead to 8-4.
The Fire would not be denied.
They scored four times in the ninth and had the bases loaded but couldn't plate the winning run. St. Francis added a run in the top of the tenth to again push the Fire to the brink, but SEU came back and first tied the game at nine then won it with Hinrikus' clutch hit.
Before Hinrikus' heroics, James Strom came up huge as well. He laced a two-out, two-run, game-tying double into left center field that completed SEU's four-run comeback in the ninth.
In the tenth, a Cougar error helped Charlie Collins, who led off with a walk, tie the game again at 9-9. Alfonso Villalobos was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases for SEU. After the second out was recorded, Hinrikus cracked the walk-off grand slam and teh bench erupted, giving the Fire a 12-game winning streak to start the season.
Ten different players collected the 13 hits for the Fire on the day.
Connor Hicks tripled and doubled with a run and one RBI. Myles White doubled and singled with two runs and two RBI, while Strom connected on two doubles, a run and two RBI.
On the mound, Andrew Hansen struck out the final Cougar hitter, the only one he faced, for his first win.
SEU will have almost a week to enjoy the victory when it plays host to Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) next Friday in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
