LEWISTON, Idaho – The Fire ran into the nation's best on Wednesday night and got a firsthand look at why LSU Shreveport remains unbeaten. The No. 1-ranked Pilots jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating Southeastern University 10-0 in seven innings tonight in the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series.
After the Fire were retired in order in the top of the first, LSU Shreveport wasted no time at the plate, opening with back-to-back doubles and scoring five runs in the inning. The Pilots used an RBI single, a sacrifice fly, and a two-run single to jump out to take a commanding lead.
SEU had limited offensive opportunities, scattering just four hits in the game. Alfonso Villalobos led off the second inning with a single, and the Fire threatened briefly in the sixth with back-to-back two-out singles from Jon Paul Pennella and Charlie Collins. Peter Tassler added a double in the seventh, but Southeastern couldn't break through.
LSU Shreveport's ace Isaac Rohde was dominant on the mound, improving to 16-0 with a complete-game shutout. He struck out 10 and held the Fire scoreless for just the second time all season—the only other being a 1-0 loss to Ave Maria on April 11.
The Pilots outhit the Fire 9-4 and extended their lead with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. SEU's Olvis Genao and Tyler Zylstra offered a bright spots on the mound by retiring the Pilots in order in the second, third, and sixth innings.
Despite the setback, SEU's postseason run is not over. The Fire (46-14) will face second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett (56-6) in a Thursday elimination game with a spot in the championship game on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST. The winner will stay alive while the loser's season will be over.
Southeastern earned a 2-1 win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday, holding the nation's highest-scoring team to a season-low single run.
