LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 3 Southeastern opened the 2026 season with a 7–5 victory over Montreat on Thursday night at Ted A. Broer Stadium, using timely offense, a strong opening start, and late-inning execution to secure the season-opening win.
After a scoreless first inning, the Fire struck first in the bottom of the second.
Nathanial Hopkins ignited the rally with a single and moved into scoring position before
David Flores delivered an RBI single up the middle to give Southeastern a 2–0 lead.
Blake Sandvik set the tone on the mound in his season debut. The right-hander worked five innings to earn the win, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five. Sandvik navigated early traffic and kept Montreat from mounting sustained rallies, providing stability as Southeastern built its lead.
Southeastern added to its advantage in the fourth inning. Hopkins doubled down the left-field line and later scored on a groundout, extending the lead to 3–0. Montreat answered in the fifth, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score three runs and briefly tie the game.
The response from the Fire was immediate. With two runners on in the bottom of the fifth,
Paul Wittmann delivered the decisive swing, launching a three-run home run to right field to put Southeastern back in front, 6–3. The blast restored momentum and energized the Fire dugout.
The defining moment of the game came two innings later. In the top of the seventh, Montreat loaded the bases with no outs, threatening to erase the lead. Southeastern turned to
Brody McMullen, who immediately picked off a runner at second base to defuse the situation. Montreat managed just one run on an RBI single, but McMullen limited the damage there, striking out Jason Brulport looking before inducing a fielder's choice to escape the inning and preserve a 6–4 lead.
The Fire responded again in the bottom of the seventh.
Charlie Collins doubled down the left-field line and later scored on a fielder's choice and throwing error, pushing the margin back to three at 7–4.
From there, McMullen closed the door, working the final three innings to earn the save while allowing just one unearned run and striking out three. His poise in the seventh proved pivotal, as Montreat added a run in the ninth but never mounted a serious threat.
Hopkins led the offense with a 3-for-4 night, scoring twice and adding a double. Collins finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Flores drove in two runs. Wittmann's three-run homer stood as the difference on the scoreboard.
The series continues Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
