BABSON PARK, Fla. — No. 11 Southeastern opened its road series with No. 12 Webber International on Thursday night, falling 18-8 in an offensive-heavy contest.
Webber International set the tone early, plating three runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second to build a quick 5-0 advantage. The Warriors then broke the game open in the third, scoring seven runs on six hits—including a three-run home run from Ty Mathews—to extend the lead to 12-3.
Southeastern showed life in the top of the third. After a pair of baserunners reached,
Jace Essig delivered a three-run homer to left-center to put the Fire on the board and briefly cut into the deficit at 5-3.
The Fire continued to chip away in the fifth inning.
Cade Parry and
Cooper Ciesielski each drove in runs with doubles, and an error allowed another run to score, trimming the margin to 12-6. However, Webber answered again in the sixth with three more runs, highlighted by a two-run home run from Austen Jaslove, pushing the lead back to nine.
Southeastern added two runs in the eighth on an RBI single from
Paul Wittmann and a late push from the lineup, but Webber matched with three runs in the bottom half to secure the 18-8 final.
Offensively, the Fire finished with 12 hits. Essig led the way with a home run and three RBIs, while Parry collected two hits and an RBI. Wittmann added two hits and drove in a pair, and Ciesielski contributed an RBI double.
On the mound, Southeastern used four pitchers in the contest, with
Blake Sandvik taking the loss after allowing five runs in the opening innings.
The two teams will continue the series Friday in Babson Park with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
