MOBILE, Ala. -- No. 3 Southeastern put together a dominant Friday on the road, sweeping a doubleheader at Mobile with 10–2 and 12–2 victories at Jacobs Field. Behind explosive offense, steady pitching, and fundamentally sound defense, the Fire controlled both games from the middle innings on and improved to 8–3 on the season.
Southeastern opened the day with a complete performance in a seven-inning contest, using timely extra-base hits and a strong start on the mound to set the tone for the twin bill.
After a quiet first two innings for both sides, the Fire broke through in the third.
Nick Streuer sparked the rally with a triple to right-center and came home on a wild pitch to score the game's first run.
Paul Wittmann followed by drawing a walk, stealing second, and later scoring on
Dayne Wimberly's RBI single to give SEU a 2–0 edge.
That early lead was more than enough for starter
Byler Reither, who turned in a composed outing. The right-hander worked efficiently through six innings, allowing just two runs while keeping Mobile from building any sustained momentum. He scattered six hits, navigated a pair of walks, and limited damage to pick up his second win of the season.
The Fire offense provided separation in the fifth inning.
Cooper Ciesielski singled and
Jace Essig reached on an error to put two aboard for Wimberly, who delivered the decisive blow with a three-run homer down the right-field line. The swing pushed the lead to 5–0 and firmly shifted momentum to the visitors.
Southeastern kept the pressure on in the sixth. Wittmann launched a two-run homer to right, scoring Streuer and extending the margin to 7–0. Later in the inning, Wimberly added another RBI with a single up the middle, capping a five-RBI day and showcasing the Fire's production from the heart of the lineup.
Mobile scratched across two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single, but the Fire quickly answered. In the seventh,
Brock McMullen singled and
Armani Cozza entered as a pinch runner, promptly stealing second to move into scoring position. Streuer then put the finishing touches on his standout game by homering down the right-field line to drive in two.
Streuer finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs in a dynamic all-around effort at the top of the order.
Parker Lambeth closed out the game with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts.
As a team, Southeastern collected 13 hits, drew four walks, and played error-free defense.
If the opener set the tone, the nightcap reinforced it. Southeastern again seized control early and never allowed Mobile to find a foothold.
After a scoreless first, the Fire erupted in the second inning. Wimberly drew a walk to start the frame, and McMullen followed with a bunt single that turned into a run when a throwing error allowed Wimberly to score. Shortly after,
Nathanial Hopkins delivered the big swing, crushing a three-run homer to left to make it 4–0.
SEU added on in the third when Wittmann was hit by a pitch and came around to score on Wimberly's RBI double. Mobile answered with a run in the bottom half, but Southeastern immediately responded in the fourth. A hit batter, a single, and a sacrifice bunt created traffic, and
Braden Bartholomae drove in a run after being hit by a pitch to stretch the lead to 6–1.
A Mobile solo homer in the fourth trimmed the deficit to 6–2, but the Fire quickly rebuilt their cushion. In the fifth, Cozza's bunt single forced a defensive miscue that allowed two runs to score, extending the lead to 8–2.
On the mound,
Brody McMullen delivered a strong start. The right-hander worked six innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. Though he issued four walks, he consistently limited hard contact and worked out of trouble to secure his first win of the season.
Southeastern's offense continued to apply pressure late. Wittmann tripled and scored on a fielder's choice in the sixth to make it 9–2. In the eighth, Wimberly again came through with a two-RBI single through the left side, giving him three RBIs in the game and pushing the lead to 11–2.
The Fire added one more in the ninth when Andy Roman lined a pinch-hit RBI single to center to score Streuer for the final 12–2 margin. Southeastern finished with 12 hits and eight walks, showing patience and depth throughout the lineup.
Out of the bullpen,
Aron Harrington and
Hayden Givens-Craig shut the door. Harrington struck out five over two scoreless innings, and Givens-Craig recorded two strikeouts in a clean ninth to seal the sweep.
With two decisive wins in hand, Southeastern carries significant momentum into Saturday's series finale. They will look to complete the road series sweep when they face Mobile again on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.
