Box Score LEWISTON, Idaho – The Fire couldn't have scripted a better start to their NAIA World Series run. Southeastern University exploded offensively and received a dominant performance on the mound from Reece Wissinger in a 15-2, run-rule shortened rout of No. 7 Webber International in Saturday's opening game for both teams.
Alfonso Villalobos set the tone early with a two-run homer in the top of the first, scoring Connor Hicks, who had doubled home Charlie Collins, to give SEU a 3-0 lead. That was all the support Wissinger needed. The graduate pitcher tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out four. He improved to 9-0 on the season with his second complete game.
"Getting out to an early lead and giving Reece some breathing room was huge," said SEU head coach Gabe Grinder. "It was a great way to open the tournament."
Villalobos finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two singles, three runs scored, and a team-high four runs batted in.
"I stayed through it and put a good barrel on it," Villalobos said of his first-inning homer. "I was happy to help extend the lead because I knew Reece was going to take care of the rest."
The win served as a bit of redemption for SEU (45-13), who had fallen to Webber (44-14) in the Sun Conference Tournament semifinals. With the victory, the Fire improved to 4-2 against the Warriors in 2025, having won three of four during the regular-season series.
"This one meant a lot after losing to them in the conference tournament," Villalobos added. "We had a chip on our shoulder, and we wanted to show who we are."
Saturday's win also marked SEU's first opening-round World Series victory since 2023, when the Fire defeated Lewis-Clark State. Last season, SEU fell to Arizona Christian in the first round.
Next up, the Fire will face the winner of Monday's Georgia Gwinnett vs. Tennessee Wesleyan game. That second-round match-up is set for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. EDT.
"They're going to be a good baseball team, whoever it is," Grinder said. "We need to pitch well, grind out at-bats, and continue to play strong defense."
SEU's offense was relentless, outhitting Webber 16-3. Hicks joined Villalobos with a big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Tyler Hinrikus singled and doubled, scoring twice. Collins scored three runs and had a pair of singles.
David Castillo and Nick Streuer each collected two hits. Castillo added an RBI, and Streuer contributed an RBI and a run. James Strom joined the home run parade with a two-run blast in the fourth, finishing with a run and two RBI. Jon Paul Pennella and John Rossi each added an RBI single late in the game.
The Fire blew the game open in the fourth inning, leading 6-0 entering the frame. Hicks drove in a run with a ground out, Villalobos knocked in two more with a single, and Strom capped the inning with his two-run homer to make it 11-0.
Pennella responded to Webber's lone run in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single in the fifth, and Rossi tacked on two more with a single in the sixth. Hicks finished the scoring with a solo home run to lead off the seventh—SEU's third long ball of the day.
Wissinger wrapped up his dominant outing by striking out the first and final batters of the seventh.
"Reece did Reece," Grinder said. "He's been our guy all year, and today he gave us exactly what we needed."
