LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 8 Southeastern opens Sun Conference play this week as the Fire welcome Warner to Ted A. Broer Stadium for a four-game series beginning Thursday. The matchup marks the start of league competition for SEU after a strong non-conference stretch. Southeastern enters the weekend riding a four-game winning streak and will look to carry that momentum into the start of conference play against a Warner squad that features one of the Sun Conference's top hitters in JD Swarbrick.
Schedule
- Thursday, March 12 — vs. Warner* (DH), 11 a.m.
- Friday, March 13 — vs. Warner*, 12 p.m.
- Saturday, March 14 — vs. Warner*, 11 a.m.
How to Follow
All four games will be available live on the Urban Edge Network app, accessible on Smart TVs and mobile devices, and online at
urbanedgenetwork.net. Fans can also follow live statistics throughout the series at SEUFire.com, providing pitch-by-pitch updates from Ted A. Broer Stadium.
Fire 5 – Five Quick Hits on SEU Baseball
- Hot Bats in March
Southeastern is hitting .341 with a 1.074 OPS in March, producing 11 home runs and 61 runs early in the month.
- Run Production = Wins
The Fire are 10–0 this season when scoring 10 or more runs, showing the lineup's ability to turn offensive outbursts into victories.
- Power Surge
Southeastern has launched 25 home runs in its first 22 games, including 19 at Ted A. Broer Stadium, while opponents have hit just 10 total homers.
- Table Setter
Armani Cozza leads the Fire offense with a .432 batting average and .523 on-base percentage, ranking among the Sun Conference's top hitters.
- First-Inning Factor
The Fire are 4–0 when scoring in the first inning and 10–3 when plating the first run of the game this season.
About the Fire
Southeastern enters the week with a 16–6 overall record and a .727 winning percentage, including an 11–4 mark at Ted A. Broer Stadium this season. The Fire have been strong away from Lakeland as well, posting a 4–0 record on the road, while going 1–2 in neutral-site contests. Southeastern carries a four-game winning streak into the opening weekend of Sun Conference play.
Offensively, the Fire have produced one of the most balanced attacks in the Sun Conference. Southeastern is hitting .295 as a team, ranking 67th nationally, while its .445 on-base percentage ranks 17th in the NAIA and second in the Sun Conference. The Fire also rank 34th nationally in slugging percentage (.483) and 24th nationally in OPS (.928). Southeastern has recorded 65 extra-base hits and 25 home runs, ranking 20th nationally in home runs and second in the Sun Conference in slugging.
The Fire pitching staff has been one of the most effective groups in the NAIA early in the season. Southeastern carries a 3.03 team ERA, which ranks fourth nationally and first in the Sun Conference. The Fire also hold a 1.31 WHIP (19th in the NAIA) while averaging 9.75 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks fourth in the Sun Conference. Opponents are hitting just .239 against Southeastern pitching, while the staff has combined for 190 strikeouts through 22 games.
The Lineup
Armani Cozza has been the Fire's most consistent offensive performer early in the season. The sophomore leads Southeastern with a .432 batting average, ranking second in the Sun Conference, while also posting a .523 on-base percentage. Cozza has scored 24 runs and collected 16 hits, providing a spark at the top of the order and consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses.
Dayne Wimberly has emerged as one of the team's top run producers from the heart of the lineup. The junior is hitting .362 with 21 hits and 24 RBIs, placing him among the conference leaders in runs driven in. Wimberly has also delivered key extra-base production with three home runs and six extra-base hits, helping anchor the Fire offense.
Cade Parry has been Southeastern's top power threat through the first month of the season. Parry leads the Fire with six home runs, which ranks first in the Sun Conference, while posting a .684 slugging percentage. In addition to his power numbers, Parry has driven in 20 runs, making him one of the most dangerous middle-of-the-order bats in the league.
Charlie Collins has provided another major source of extra-base production for Southeastern. Collins is hitting .360 with a .680 slugging percentage, which ranks second in the Sun Conference, while also adding three home runs and 13 RBIs. His ability to consistently drive the ball has helped deepen the Fire lineup.
Southeastern's offensive depth continues beyond the middle of the order with several contributors playing key roles.
Cort Pryor has driven in 22 runs while adding three home runs and seven stolen bases, bringing both power and speed to the lineup.
Nathanial Hopkins has appeared in every game this season and contributed 19 hits with 20 runs scored while reaching base at a .416 clip.
Nick Streuer has also provided consistent production with a .375 average and a .519 on-base percentage, while
Brock McMullen has made the most of his opportunities, hitting .407 with a team-best .568 on-base percentage in limited appearances.
The Staff
Blake Sandvik has anchored the Southeastern rotation early in the season. The right-hander leads the team with four wins and holds a 3.10 ERA over 29 innings, striking out 32 batters while limiting opponents to a .250 batting average. Sandvik has provided stability at the front of the rotation while consistently working deep into games.
Byler Reither has been another key starter for the Fire. Reither owns a 3–1 record with a 4.10 ERA across 26.1 innings pitched, striking out 27 batters in five starts. His ability to generate strikeouts and manage opposing lineups has helped solidify Southeastern's starting staff.
Blake Albritton has also delivered strong performances on the mound for the Fire. In six appearances, including three starts, Albritton has recorded a 2.42 ERA over 26 innings with 22 strikeouts. His consistency has given Southeastern another dependable arm within the rotation.
Brody McMullen has filled multiple roles on the pitching staff this season. Appearing both as a starter and in relief, McMullen has compiled a 2.08 ERA across 21.2 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts, providing valuable flexibility for the Fire pitching staff.
Southeastern has also received strong contributions from several additional arms throughout the staff.
Finn Still has been effective in limited action with a 1.80 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings, while
Parker Lambeth has added a 1.29 ERA with 10 strikeouts in seven innings out of the bullpen.
Micah Earwood has been particularly efficient, striking out 13 batters across eight innings without allowing an earned run, and
Cole Jones has handled late-inning opportunities with two saves, tying him among the Sun Conference leaders.
National Rankings & Rating Metrics
Southeastern continues to receive strong national recognition across multiple ranking systems early in the 2026 season. The Fire are currently ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll (March 4) while also appearing No. 3 in the NAIA Ball Media Poll and No. 5 in the Perfect Game NAIA rankings, placing Southeastern consistently among the top teams in the country across several national polls.
Advanced rating systems also reflect the Fire's strong start to the season. Southeastern sits No. 16 in the Massey Ratings as of March 10, while the PEAR Ratings place the Fire 13th in TSR, 23rd in NET, and 29th in RQI. Together, these metrics highlight Southeastern's strong overall performance and national standing as the program enters the opening weekend of Sun Conference play.
About Warner
Warner enters the series with a 12–10 overall record and a 2–2 mark in Sun Conference play this season. The Royals have been competitive early in the year, hitting .288 as a team with 194 hits through their first 22 games, while also showing speed on the basepaths with 78 stolen bases in 97 attempts. Warner has generated much of its offense through contact and pressure, led by JD Swarbrick, who leads the Sun Conference with a .455 batting average, along with 20 hits and a .538 on-base percentage. The Royals also feature strong production from Gabriel Rodriguez (.380) and Adriel Torres-Gonzalez (.306), giving Warner multiple offensive threats entering conference play.
On the mound, Warner carries a 5.53 team ERA through its first 22 games while allowing opponents to hit .260. The Royals have relied on a mix of starters and bullpen arms, led by Trenton Chenard, who has logged 31.2 innings with 35 strikeouts, the most on the staff. Warner has also received solid performances from Easton Nunez (3.27 ERA) and reliever Alexi Angelo, who owns a 2.45 ERA with two saves this season. The Royals' pitching staff has recorded 158 strikeouts across 174 innings pitched, helping them remain competitive in close games.
Series History
The upcoming series continues a long-running matchup between the two programs, which first met in 2004. Southeastern holds a 50–19–1 advantage in the all-time series, including an 8–2 record over the last 10 meetings. The Fire swept Warner in their four regular-season matchups during the 2024 season before the teams met five times in 2025, including a 12–1 run-rule victory by Southeastern in the Sun Conference Tournament. With conference play beginning this weekend, the series represents an important early test in the Sun Conference standings for both programs.
Looking Ahead
Following the opening Sun Conference series against Warner, Southeastern will hit the road next week for another conference matchup, traveling to Miami Gardens for a four-game series against Florida Memorial. The Fire will open the set on Thursday, March 19 at 3 p.m., followed by a Friday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m., before concluding the series on Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m.. The trip marks Southeastern's first Sun Conference road series of the season as the Fire continue conference play.
