MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Fire are heading into the postseason as Sun Conference Regular Season Champions. Southeastern University scored three runs in the first inning and never trailed, securing an 8-4 victory over St. Thomas University to win the weekend series, 3-1, setting themselves up for a dramatic turn of events later in the day.
Webber International University, who came into the day with a game-and-a-half lead on the Fire for first place in the Sun, dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Ave Maria, by scores of 17-13 and 5-2, giving Southeastern the title. Although the two teams share an 18-10 conference record, the Fire are the champs via a 3-1 head-to-head record against the Warriors.
The championship is the program's sixth in a row, as they also won titles in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"To say I'm proud of what these guys have done is an understatement," said head coach Gabe Grinder. "To watch them come together throughout the year, work through hardships, and form a tight bond has been special. The obstacles they faced throughout the season have felt like a roller coaster at times, and through it all they have stayed resilient and found a way to keep winning," added Grinder. "I look forward to the coming weeks with these guys as we continue to pursue our goals."
The Fire end the regular season with a 39-11 record overall and are currently ranked No. 8 in the NAIA.
Southeastern now turns its attention to the Sun Conference Tournament, which starts on Thursday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. The Fire enter the tournament as the top seed and will face sixth-seeded Warner University. The two teams split their four-game series back in mid-March, with SEU winning the first two games and the Royals taking games three and four. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
