LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire continued their season-opening run on Friday. Southeastern University used a pair of top-notch starts and two 4-run innings in a doubleheader sweep of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), 10-0 in eight innings and 5-1 in seven innings, today at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
Reece Wissinger kept his mastery of opponent hitters going with a 9-strikeout shutout in the day's opener. Alfonso Villalobos belted a 3-run homer in the fifth inning as the biggest hit as part of the four-run frame.
In a 1-1 game heading to the home fifth, Jon Paul Pennella and Brock McMullen opened the Fire trip to the plate with singles. Connor Hicks and Myles White were hit by pitches with the bases loaded with Peter Tassler drawing an RBI walk between them for what would be a 5-1 final.
SEU (14-0) remained dominant from the mound, holding the opponent to one run or less for the ninth time in 14 games this season. The Eagles dropped to 2-9.
Of the 13 SEU hits on the day, Hicks accounted for a quarter of the offense with a pair of two-hit games in a 4-for-5 day. He connected on two solo home runs in Game 1, before he drove in two more runners on a single and the hit by a pitch.
Villalobos, Pennella, and Nick Streuer each lined a hit in each contest. Villalobos had the big hit with the 3-run homer in the first contest, while Pennella scored three runs and Steuer one. Tassler and White added one hit apiece.
Wissinger went the first seven innings and improved to 4-0 on the year with his one-hit, nine-strikeout performance. Johnny Pecora finished the contest with a scoreless seventh, fanning one.
On the mound in Game 2, Aaron Robertson (3-0) scattered six hits and struck out five over six innings of work. Andrew Hansen struck out the side in the seventh.
SEU and Embry-Riddle complete their four-game series tomorrow afternoon with another twin bill. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.
