LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire capped a big series with a big answer. After giving Webber International a gift with a horrific defensive sixth inning in game three on Friday night, Southeastern responded, and then some, with a big six-run fifth inning today to beat the Warriors, 10-5, and clinch the series.
After falling behind 4-0, the Warriors scored five times in the top of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. SEU could have folded, but responded quickly with six runs of their own in the bottom hafl of the inning to put the game away.
With one run in, Jon Paul Pennella laced a two-run double down the right field line and put SEU back ahead, 7-5, but the Fire were just getting started. Both Connor Hicks and Alfonso Villalobos drove in one of the other three runs on singles to give SEU a 10-5 lead which would end up being the final score.
Agnel Miranda started for the Fire and pitched four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. He gave up four runs on only two hits while walking two and striking out six. Alex Johnson came in and gave up a run on one hit, earning the win. Andrew Hansen relieved Johnson in the sixth and held Webber to one hit while walking one over the final four scoreless innings of work to earn the save.
Hicks and James Strom produced half of the Fire's 11 hits with three apiece. Hicks doubled and singled twice with one RBI, while Strom singled three times and scored once.
Villalobos lined a pair of hits with a run and three RBI. Pennella doubled, scored two times, and drove in a pair, while Nick Streuer doubled in another run. Charlie Collins rounded out the hitting with a single. Malachi scored a run, had an RBI, and swiped a base. Both Brock McMullen and John Rossi scored a run.
With the win, SEU improves to 26-4 (5-3 SUN) and clinched the series against No. 7 Webber, who fell to 22-8 (3-5 SUN).
SEU will be off until next Saturday, when they travel to New College of Florida in Sarasota for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.
