AVE MARIA, Fla. – Southeastern University rallied late to salvage the final game of a four-game Sun Conference set on Saturday. The Fire scored three runs in the top of the ninth to rally from a 4-3 deficit, lifting the Fire to a 6-4 victory over Ave Maria University in game two, after the Gyrenes took the opener, 13-2.
White gave the Fire an early lead in the second game with a two-run double in the second inning, but it would be SEU's only lead until the final inning. Ave Maria answered with three runs in the third and added four more in the fifth and sixth to go ahead 4-3 entering the ninth.
Down to their final three outs, the Fire capitalized on a pair of Gyrene errors. Alfonso Villalobos reached on an error, and James Strom followed with a single. Both came around to score when David Castillo's grounder back to the mound was misplayed, giving SEU a 5-4 edge. White then roped his second double of the game, driving in Brock McMullen, who pinch-ran for Castillo, for a two-run cushion. Cole Jones took the mound in the bottom half and retired the side in order to secure the win.
SEU tallied 13 hits in the finale, led by White and Strom, who each went 4-for-5. White drove in three runs, stole a base, and had two doubles on the day, while Strom added a double and scored twice. Villalobos contributed a two-run homer as the Fire's other extra-base hit.
Jacob Gumieny, Jon Paul Pennella, Charlie Collins, and Connor Hicks each singled. Hicks also had an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.
Jones (2-1) earned the win in relief with two perfect innings. Olvis Genao and Tyler Zylstra also turned in strong outings from the bullpen. Genao worked 2.1 scoreless innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout, while Zylstra pitched two hitless frames with a strikeout of his own.
Southeastern (33-9, 12-8 SUN) sits in second place in the conference standings, a game back of Webber International and one game ahead of Keiser.
Up Next
Southeastern returns home Thursday evening, April 17, to begin its next Sun Conference series against No. 23 Keiser University. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
