LAKELAND, Fla. — In cold, windy conditions at Ted A. Broer Stadium, No. 3 Southeastern Baseball saw a late lead slip away Saturday afternoon, falling 9–8 to Montreat in the final game of the weekend series. The Fire battled back from an early deficit and led for much of the contest, but Montreat plated two runs in the top of the ninth to secure the series finale.
Southeastern was tested immediately as Montreat struck for five runs in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on traffic and a grand slam to take an early advantage. The Fire answered quickly and emphatically in the bottom of the second, using aggressive baserunning and timely hitting to flip the game in their favor.
After trimming the deficit with consecutive RBI singles from
Nathanial Hopkins and
Nick Streuer,
Cort Pryor launched a grand slam to left field, pushing the Fire in front 6–5. Saturday's six-run second inning was emblematic of the weekend for SEU, which piled up 22 runs in the second inning across the four-game series.
The Fire continued to apply pressure in the third, adding two more runs. Hopkins scored on a wild pitch before
David Flores drove in Streuer with an RBI single, extending the lead to 8–5.
On the mound,
Blake Albritton provided stability in relief after the opening frame, tossing four innings while allowing just three hits and two runs. The right-hander walked two and struck out four on 67 pitches, consistently working out of traffic and keeping Montreat in check through the middle innings as Southeastern protected its advantage.
Montreat began to chip away in the fifth, using a pair of singles and another wild pitch to pull within one at 8–7. Southeastern had opportunities to add insurance over the final four innings, including runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth, but were unable to find a breakthrough hit to blow the game open.
The turning point came in the top of the ninth. After a walk and a fielder's choice put runners on, Montreat pinch hitter Jason Brulport delivered a two-run double down the right-field line, flipping the score and giving the visitors a 9–8 lead. Southeastern went quietly in the bottom half, unable to mount a final response.
Hopkins finished with multiple hits and runs scored, Streuer crossed the plate twice, Pryor drove in four runs,
Cade Parry added a pair of hits, and Flores reached base consistently throughout the contest.
The Fire now turn their attention to a three-game home series against No. 12 Oklahoma Wesleyan, opening Friday, February 6, at 6 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
