LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire won game one and looked like they were cruising to a sweep, until they weren't. Aaron Robertson fired a six-hit gem leading Southeastern University to a 1-0 victory before No. 7 Webber International used five unearned runs in the sixth for a 7-5 game two victory to earn the split.
In game one, despite only sending the Warriors down in order only one time, in the sixth, Roberson held the visiting offense off the scoreboard. The senior lefty allowed two singles in the second and four other singles scattered the rest of the game. Robertson received the only run he needed in the home second when Nick Streuer lined a single to left field sending Myles White, who singled with one out, home.
In the nightcap, after the Fire posted three runs in the second and two more in the fifth, the Warriors took advantage of home miscues in the sixth to take the lead. Webber plated six runs, with only one of them earned, to take a 7-5 advantage. A Steuer one-out single in the seventh turned out to be SEU's only offense in their last four at bats.
With the split, SEU (25-4/4-3 Sun Conference) earned at least a 4-game series split after its Thursday evening win. Webber International (22-7/3-4 Sun Conference) broke a 9-game losing streak to SEU with the win.
SEU amassed only 14 hits on the day. Streuer gained top honors with a 4-for-6 day with three runs, a home run, and four RBI. Both Jon Paul Pennella and Alfonso Villalobos chipped in three hits apiece, with Pennella going 3-for-4 late with an RBI, while Villalobos singled and doubled twice with a run.
White, James Strom, Charlie Collins, and David Castillo rounded out the hits with one each.
Robertson ran his season mark to 6-0 with the complete game, six-hit shut out. In the late game, Bryce McDonald took the loss but deserved a better fate. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up only 2 earned runs while walking one and striking out seven, but was victimized by five unearned runs. Andrew Hansen, Austin Peddycoart, and Johnny Pecora held the Warriors scoreless over the final 3.1 combined innings. Pecora struck out the side in the ninth.
SEU and Webber complete the four-game series with a single game on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
