WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — No. 9 Southeastern opened its four-game Sun Conference road series with a 5–3 extra-inning win over Keiser on Thursday evening at Silvester Jr. Field, leaning on pitching depth and situational execution to secure the opener.
The game developed into a pitcher's duel early, with both sides held scoreless through the first three innings. Southeastern starter
Blake Sandvik worked efficiently out of early traffic, scattering just two hits across his first six innings while consistently working ahead in counts.
Keiser broke through in the fourth, taking advantage of a hit batter and consecutive wild pitches to manufacture a run and grab a 1–0 lead. Southeastern answered in the fifth, as
Cooper Ciesielski provided the first breakthrough of the night for the Fire. The outfielder turned on a pitch and drove it out to left-center for a solo home run, tying the game at 1–1.
From there, both pitching staffs settled back in. Sandvik continued to limit hard contact, finishing with 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on just two hits while striking out eight. Keiser, however, found an opening in the seventh. After a double and a sacrifice moved the go-ahead run into scoring position, the Seahawks strung together a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to take a 3–1 advantage.
SEU responded immediately in the eighth.
Cade Parry started the rally with a single, and after a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases,
Nathanial Hopkins delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
Armani Cozza followed with a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at 3–3 and shifting momentum back to the Fire.
The bullpen took over from there.
Micah Earwood delivered a clean eighth inning, striking out two, before handing the ball to
Peyten Czekalewski. The right-hander controlled the late innings, working two scoreless frames and allowing just one baserunner while striking out two to keep Keiser off the board.
In the 10th, Southeastern capitalized on another opportunity to execute.
Brock McMullen opened the inning with a single, and after a walk and a well-placed bunt loaded the bases,
Dayne Wimberly lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Fire a 4–3 lead. Moments later,
Charlie Collins executed a squeeze bunt that brought home an insurance run, extending the lead to 5–3.
Czekalewski returned for the bottom half and shut the door, retiring the side to seal the extra-inning victory.
Despite collecting just five hits, Southeastern made them count—scoring five runs through disciplined at-bats, drawing four walks, and executing multiple sacrifice situations. Ciesielski led the way with the lone extra-base hit, while Hopkins and McMullen each contributed key hits in late-game rallies.
With the win, Southeastern improves to 26-9 overall and 9-3 in Sun Conference play, taking an early advantage in the four-game set.
The series continues Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla., as the Fire look to build on their opening-game momentum.
