LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University beat the Fire 6-5 today to earn a series split in the conference opening weekend for Southeastern. The Fire took games one and two, while the Royals won the back end two games.
Charlie Collins and Connor Hicks both lined back-to-back RBI singles for a 5-0 SEU lead after 3.5 innings. The Royals, though, tied the game with five scores in the home fourth and saw what turned out to be the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the fifth for the 6-5 lead. Collins provided the only hits over the last four innings for the Fire with a two-out double in the sixth and a one-out single in the top of the night. Hicks singled after Collins in the ninth, but they could not get home.
With the loss, SEU (23-3) split the four-game series with rival Warner (12-14/4-4 SUN) and start the season 2-2 in the league.
Collins and Hicks accounted for six of the team's 10 hits of the afternoon. Collins doubled and singled twice with one run and an RBI, while Hicks lined three singles with an RBI.
Alfonso Villalobos singled home one teammate. Peter Tassler, Nick Streuer and John Rossi chipped in one single each.
On the mound, Andrew Hansen held the Royals in check with a scoreless seventh and eighth innings.
Starting the contest, Collins and Hicks drew back-to-back, one-out free passes. After a passed ball moved up the runners, Villalobos singled in Collins. James Strom knocked in Hicks on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 Fire lead.
With SEU ahead 5-0, Warner tied the game with five runs coming off two doubles, two singles and a pair of walks in the home fourth.
The Fire will have five days off to regroup before they host No. 7 Webber International in a four game series starting on Thursday evening at 6 p.m.
