LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 10 Southeastern hits the road this weekend for a four-game Sun Conference series against Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens. The Fire enter the week at 19–7 overall and 3–1 in conference play, carrying a two-game win streak and a perfect 4–0 mark away from home. This series presents an early opportunity to build separation in the conference standings, as SEU looks to continue its strong start both offensively and on the mound.
Schedule
- Thursday, March 19 – at Florida Memorial – 1 p.m.
- Friday, March 20 – at Florida Memorial – 12 p.m. (DH)
- Saturday, March 21 – at Florida Memorial – 12 p.m.
All games at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field in Miami Gardens.
Stay Locked In with the Fire
All four games will be available to watch on the Urban Edge Network via Smart TV and mobile app, as well as online at
urbanedgenetwork.net. Live stats will be provided through
SEUFire.com, offering pitch-by-pitch updates throughout the series.
Fire 5 – Five Quick Hits on SEU Baseball
- Offensive Pressure All Game
Southeastern is hitting .309 with runners on base and .318 with runners in scoring position, consistently capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
- Big Innings, Big Results
The Fire have produced 11 innings of 5+ runs this season, including a 10-run inning vs Warner, showing their ability to break games open quickly.
- Dominant When Ahead
SEU is 17–1 when leading after six innings and 16–1 when leading after five, highlighting their ability to close out games.
- Strikeout Stuff
The pitching staff is averaging 9.82 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking among the top arms in the NAIA and keeping opposing offenses in check.
- Speed Creates Pressure
Southeastern is 60-for-76 on stolen bases, using speed to create scoring chances and put constant pressure on opposing defenses.
About the Fire
Southeastern enters the week at 19–7 overall with a .731 winning percentage and a 3–1 mark in Sun Conference play. The Fire have been dominant at home (14–5) while also proving effective away from Lakeland with a perfect 4–0 road record. Their +138 run differential (234 scored, 96 allowed) reflects a team that has consistently controlled games on both sides of the ball.
SEU ranks among the more balanced offensive teams in the NAIA, hitting .301 as a team with a .443 on-base percentage and .931 OPS. The Fire rank second in the Sun Conference in both OBP (.443) and slugging (.488), pairing patience at the plate with consistent power production. With 80 extra-base hits and 29 home runs, Southeastern has shown the ability to generate runs in multiple ways while maintaining pressure throughout the lineup.
Pitching has been the clear strength of this group. The Fire own a 3.06 ERA, ranking second in the NAIA, along with a 1.29 WHIP and 9.82 strikeouts per nine innings. Southeastern leads the Sun Conference in ERA and ranks second in WHIP, while holding opponents to a .241 batting average. The staff's depth and ability to miss bats has been a defining factor early in the season.
Metrics Meet Momentum
Southeastern continues to receive strong national recognition, sitting at No. 10 in the NAIA Coaches Poll, No. 7 in NAIABall Media, and No. 4 according to Perfect Game. The consistency across polls reflects both the Fire's record and the strength of their overall profile.
Advanced metrics further support SEU's standing. The Fire rank No. 14 in Massey Ratings with a strength of schedule at No. 103. In the PearRatings system, Southeastern checks in at No. 12 TSR, No. 24 RQI, and No. 17 NET, with a stronger SOS mark of No. 53. These metrics indicate a team performing efficiently with potential to rise as conference play continues.
Cozza Collects Hardware
Armani Cozza earned Sun Conference Player of the Week honors following a dominant stretch at the plate, leading Southeastern's offensive surge. The junior outfielder hit .611 (11-for-18) on the week while posting a 1.222 slugging percentage and .682 on-base percentage. He drove in 14 runs, scored 12 times, and launched two home runs in the same game, including a grand slam. Cozza also reached base in all six plate appearances in a win over Cornerstone and contributed defensively by converting every opportunity in the field, highlighting a complete all-around performance.
The Lineup
Cozza has been one of the most dominant hitters in the NAIA, batting .451 with 23 hits in 51 at-bats, including eight doubles and three home runs. He has driven in 23 RBIs, scored 31 runs, and posted a .784 slugging percentage with a .533 on-base percentage. Cozza also contributes on the bases, going 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts, and remains one of the most complete offensive players in the country.
Charlie Collins continues to be one of the most efficient hitters in the lineup, hitting .422 with 27 hits in 64 at-bats. He has recorded six doubles, one triple, and three home runs, along with 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored. His .688 slugging percentage and .543 OBP highlight his ability to both get on base and produce extra-base power.
Dayne Wimberly has been a consistent run producer, hitting .373 with a team-high 28 hits and 26 RBIs. He has added seven doubles, two triples, and three home runs, resulting in a .640 slugging percentage and .451 OBP. His presence in the middle of the order has been key to driving in runs.
Cade Parry leads the team with seven home runs and has added 21 RBIs while hitting .278 across 72 at-bats. He owns a .611 slugging percentage and has reached base at a .400 clip, aided by eight walks and eight hit-by-pitches. His power production has been a major factor in SEU's offensive success.
Cort Pryor brings speed and versatility, hitting .281 with 16 hits, including five doubles, one triple, and three home runs. He has scored 29 runs and driven in 23 RBIs while going 9-for-12 on stolen bases. His ability to create offense both at the plate and on the bases adds another dimension to the lineup.
Nathanial Hopkins has started all 26 games, hitting .272 with 22 hits and 16 RBIs while posting a .410 OBP.
Paul Wittmann has scored 29 runs, driven in 17, and leads the team with 14 stolen bases while maintaining a .443 OBP.
Nick Streuer has been highly productive in limited action, hitting .375 with a .519 OBP and 13 RBIs.
Brock McMullen (.344 AVG, .512 OBP) and
David Flores (.300 AVG, .475 OBP) provide additional depth and consistency throughout the lineup.
The Staff
Blake Sandvik has emerged as the ace, going 4–0 with a 2.75 ERA across 36.0 innings. He has allowed just 34 hits while striking out 42 batters and holding opponents to a .248 batting average. His ability to command the zone and generate strikeouts makes him the anchor of the rotation.
Byler Reither owns a 4–1 record with a 4.50 ERA over 32.0 innings. He has recorded 31 strikeouts while consistently providing innings in a starting role, helping stabilize the weekend rotation.
Blake Albritton has been a reliable multi-role arm, posting a 2–1 record with a 2.79 ERA across 29.0 innings. He has struck out 24 batters and limited opponents to a .261 batting average, showing effectiveness in both starting and relief appearances.
Brody McMullen has contributed 22.0 innings with a 2.45 ERA, allowing 23 hits and striking out 17. His ability to limit damage and navigate key situations has made him a valuable option in multiple roles.
Micah Earwood has been dominant out of the bullpen with a 0.96 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 9.1 innings, while
Austin Peddycoart mirrors that production with a 0.96 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
Finn Still has added a 1.80 ERA over 10.0 innings, and
Parker Lambeth owns a 2.25 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 8.0 innings.
Cole Jones has recorded two saves across 11.1 innings, providing a steady option to close out games.
Scouting the Lions
Florida Memorial enters the weekend at 14–9 overall and 1–3 in Sun Conference play, showing strong results at home with an 11–4 record at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field. Offensively, the Lions are hitting .267 as a team with 21 home runs and 153 RBIs, led by a core group that can both hit for average and produce power. Justin Martinez (.352, 5 HR, 31 RBI) anchors the lineup, while Armando Ramirez (.333, 7 HR) provides the primary power threat. Pheron Charlton adds a different dimension at the top with a .348 average and 18 stolen bases, helping fuel an offense that has gone 55-for-62 on stolen base attempts and consistently pressures opposing defenses .
On the mound, Florida Memorial has been more inconsistent, posting a 7.88 team ERA while allowing opponents to hit .288. Jamal Johnson has been the standout arm, going 4–0 with a 1.89 ERA and 33 strikeouts across 33.1 innings, while Wade Francis (3.33 ERA, 31 K) has also provided stability in the rotation. Outside of those two, the staff has struggled to limit runs, with several pitchers carrying ERAs above 7.00. However, the Lions do show the ability to miss bats with 186 strikeouts in 168 innings, meaning Southeastern will still need to stay disciplined at the plate throughout the series.
History on the Fire's Side
Southeastern has dominated the all-time series against Florida Memorial, holding a 54–11 record since the first meeting in 2004 while going 32–3 at home and 21–7 on the road. The Fire enter the weekend on a five-game winning streak in the series and have won nine of the last ten matchups, including a four-game sweep in 2025. SEU has consistently controlled the matchup with both offensive firepower and pitching depth, frequently posting lopsided wins—including multiple run-rule victories and a 25–1 road win in 2024—and will look to continue that trend in Miami Gardens.
Another Big One in Lakeland
Southeastern returns home next weekend for a key Sun Conference showdown against No. 11 St. Thomas at Ted A. Broer Stadium. The series begins Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m., followed by a Friday doubleheader at 2 p.m., and concludes Saturday at 11 a.m. The matchup will provide an early measuring stick in the conference race, as two of the league's top teams square off in Lakeland.
