LEWISTON, Idaho – The Fire delivered clutch defense and took advantage of a pivotal miscue to topple second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett, 2-1, on Tuesday night, remaining in the winner's bracket and advancing in the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series.
Senior pitcher Aaron Robertson fired a complete-game gem, holding the Grizzlies' high-powered offense in check. Southeastern University moves on to face undefeated No. 1 LSU Shreveport (56-0) on Wednesday.
Robertson's defining moment came in the top of the fifth after his throwing error allowed the leadoff batter to advance to third base. With runners on the corners and no outs, he fielded a safety-squeeze bunt attempt and calmly tossed home to catcher David Castillo, who tagged out the diving runner to preserve the scoreless tie. A fielder's choice provided the second out before Robertson picked off the runner at third to end the threat and ignite the Fire dugout.
In their half of the fifth, Southeastern turned the momentum into runs. John Rossi singled to left and Jon Paul Pennella walked. A Charlie Collins groundout moved both runners into scoring position before Alfonso Villalobos hit a scorching ground ball to short. Georgia Gwinnett misplayed the ball, allowing both runners to score the eventual game-winning runs.
Robertson remained locked in, scattering seven hits over nine innings while allowing just one earned run and one walk. He struck out five, including the side in the sixth inning, and improved to 11-2 on the season with a team-best 1.99 ERA. His 128-pitch effort marked his longest outing of the year and lowered his postseason ERA to 1.88 over 24 innings.
"It started with being able to throw all my pitches for strikes," Robertson said. "We worked through the mistakes and stayed together as a team. Anytime we get someone on the mound, our offense scraps for a run or two—and they did that tonight."
The Fire (46-13) must now prepare for a showdown against top-ranked LSU Shreveport, which had a day off after defeating Hope International, 6-3, on Monday night. Southeastern holds a 2-0 all-time edge in NAIA World Series play against the Pilots, winning in 2021 (25-13) and 2022 (8-4).
"This win puts us in a great position," Robertson added. "We're taking it one game at a time. We'll wake up tomorrow with the same mentality and look to get another win."
Tuesday's triumph marked the first time all season that Georgia Gwinnett (55-6), which averages 12.6 runs per game, was held to just one run. SEU becomes only the fourth team to limit the Grizzlies to four runs or fewer in 2025. The Fire also defeated Georgia Gwinnett, 9-7, in the 2022 World Series.
Offensively, Southeastern managed just three hits. James Strom doubled, while Castillo and Rossi each singled and scored. Pennella walked twice and scored the first run. SEU hitters were hit by pitches five times.
Strom opened the Fire's second inning with a double, followed by Castillo getting hit by a pitch. However, a double play ended the early threat. In the third, Rossi was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch but was stranded. The fourth inning saw Strom hit again and Castillo reach on an error before Georgia Gwinnett again escaped unscathed.
But the two-run fifth proved enough. Tyler Hinrikus was the final SEU batter hit in the sixth, and Castillo added a two-out single in the eighth, but Robertson and the defense made the slim lead hold.
First pitch in Wednesday's game against LSU-Shreveport is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EDT from Harris Field in Lewiston.
