LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 8 Southeastern used a late offensive surge and a walk-off blast from
Charlie Collins to secure a 16–6 run-rule victory over Peru State on Friday afternoon at Ted A. Broer Stadium, clinching the second game of the weekend three-game series.
The Fire improved to 14-6 overall with their second straight run-rule win, finishing the contest in the seventh inning when Collins launched a solo home run to center field to end the game.
Southeastern struck first in the opening inning when
Cade Parry delivered a three-run home run to center, scoring
Dayne Wimberly and
Nathanial Hopkins to give the Fire an early 3–0 lead. The Fire added to the advantage in the second when
Cooper Ciesielski connected for a solo homer, pushing the margin to 4–0.
Peru State responded in the third with a two-run homer from Wrigley Strong to cut the deficit to 4–2, but Southeastern answered in the bottom half of the inning.
Charlie Collins doubled to left center and later scored when
Nathanial Hopkins reached on a throwing error, extending the Fire lead to 5–2.
The Bobcats continued to chip away, adding a solo home run in the fourth before putting together a three-run sixth inning to pull within 7–6.
Southeastern quickly regained control with its biggest inning of the day in the bottom of the sixth. The Fire erupted for eight runs in the frame, beginning with a two-run homer from
Dayne Wimberly. Later in the inning,
Cooper Ciesielski delivered a two-run single, and
Paul Wittmann worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run.
Armani Cozza capped the rally with a bases-clearing double to right center that pushed the lead to 15–6.
After
Austin Peddycoart worked a scoreless top of the seventh to keep the Fire in position for the run rule, Collins stepped to the plate in the bottom half and delivered the final blow. The senior right fielder drove a 3-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a walk-off home run, ending the game at 16–6.
Southeastern finished with 13 hits on the afternoon, with several Fire bats producing multi-hit performances. Cozza and Collins each collected two hits, while Wimberly added a double and a home run. Ciesielski also homered and drove in three runs, while Parry's first-inning blast accounted for three RBI as the Fire hit four home runs in the victory.
Byler Reither earned the win on the mound for Southeastern, improving to 3-1 after striking out seven over 5.1 innings. Peddycoart closed out the game with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
Southeastern will look to complete the three-game series sweep when the teams meet in the finale Saturday morning at Ted A. Broer Stadium.
