LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 8 Southeastern used a pair of explosive late innings to pull away from Peru State, scoring 13 runs across the seventh and eighth to secure a 17–7 victory Thursday afternoon at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
The Fire improved to 13-6 overall after collecting 16 hits and launching four home runs in the non-conference win.
Southeastern opened the scoring in the second inning. After
Paul Wittmann reached base and moved into scoring position on a pair of throwing errors by the Bobcats, he eventually crossed the plate to give the Fire a 1–0 lead.
Peru State responded in the third when Jose Cotto connected for a two-run home run to left field, putting the visitors ahead 2–1. The Bobcats added another run in the fourth to extend their advantage to 3–1.
The Fire began their comeback in the fifth inning.
Armani Cozza and
Dayne Wimberly opened the frame with back-to-back doubles before
Cade Parry drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home a run.
Cort Pryor followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and aggressive baserunning allowed
Nathanial Hopkins to steal home and give Southeastern a 4–3 lead.
Peru State answered in the seventh with four runs to reclaim the lead at 7–4, stringing together several hits and taking advantage of an error.
SEU quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Parry sparked the rally with a two-run home run to left, and Pryor followed with a solo blast to center to even the score at 7–7. The Fire continued to apply pressure as a pair of walks and a two-run single from
Charlie Collins pushed Southeastern ahead 10–7.
The offense broke the game open in the eighth.
Brock McMullen delivered a two-run single,
Braden Bartholomae added an RBI hit, and Wimberly launched a three-run home run to center. Collins capped the scoring with a solo homer, stretching the lead to 17–7.
Cozza finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the Fire at the plate, while Wimberly drove in four runs and Collins added three RBIs.
Blake Sandvik got the start on the mound for Southeastern and worked five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
Micah Earwood earned the win in relief, improving to 2-0, and
Parker Lambeth closed out the game with a scoreless eighth inning and two strikeouts.
Southeastern returns to Ted A. Broer Stadium on Friday, continuing the series against Peru State with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
