LAKELAND, Fla. – For the ninth consecutive season, Southeastern is headed to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series at Harris Field, hosted by Lewis-Clark State College. The Fire enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed after winning both the Sun Conference Tournament championship and the Lakeland Opening Round bracket, carrying a 43-16 overall record into Lewiston. Southeastern opens play on Saturday, May 23, at 2 p.m. ET against No. 6 seed Johnson University in Game 5 of the tournament.
A victory would send the Fire into the winner's bracket fourth round on Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. ET against the winner of Game 10, while a loss would move Southeastern into an elimination game Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. ET against the loser of Game 10.
The tournament opens Friday with four first-round contests before Southeastern begins play Saturday. Following Sunday's off day, the bracket continues through the week with elimination games each day leading into the championship round on May 29-30.
All games of the NAIA Baseball World Series will stream free through the Urban Edge Network on smart TVs, mobile devices, and online at
urbanedgenetwork.net.
FIRE FIVE: What to Know About the Fire in Lewiston
- Southeastern is headed to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series for the ninth straight season after surviving the Lakeland Opening Round with three elimination-game wins and back-to-back victories over British Columbia. The Fire are now 7-1 this postseason with three shutouts and return to Lewiston one year after advancing to the national championship series. #FuelTheFire #BattleForTheRedBanner
- The Fire offense enters Lewiston as one of the most productive groups in the NAIA, ranking top-32 nationally in AVG (.319), OBP (.440), OPS (.932), extra-base hits (192), and home runs (58). SEU is 32-7 when hitting a home run, 29-7 when scoring first, and 40-1 when leading after six innings this season. #FuelTheFire #BattleForTheRedBanner
- Freshman outfielder Armani Cozza has emerged as one of the breakout players in the NAIA postseason. The Sun Conference Freshman of the Year is hitting .372 with 66 runs scored and 20 multi-hit games this season while homering twice during the Opening Round, including a leadoff blast in the if-necessary game against British Columbia. #FuelTheFire #BattleForTheRedBanner
- Southeastern's pitching staff has anchored the postseason run, entering the World Series ranked ninth nationally with a 4.24 ERA. Byler Reither threw a complete-game shutout in an elimination game against Milligan, while the Fire bullpen combined to allow just two earned runs over the final 14 innings against British Columbia in the Opening Round finals. #FuelTheFire #BattleForTheRedBanner
- Since first reaching Lewiston in 2018, Southeastern has become one of the NAIA's premier postseason programs. The Fire own a 20-11 all-time World Series record with national championships in 2018 and 2022, a national runner-up finish in 2025, and victories over programs like Lewis-Clark State, Georgia Gwinnett, LSU Shreveport, and Tennessee Wesleyan on the sport's biggest stage. #FuelTheFire #BattleForTheRedBanner
Battle-Tested Fire Arrive in Lewiston
Southeastern enters Lewiston playing some of its best baseball of the season. The Fire are 7-1 in postseason play with three shutout victories and have already survived three elimination games during the Opening Round run in Lakeland. After falling into the elimination bracket early, SEU responded with three straight wins, including back-to-back victories over British Columbia to clinch another trip to Idaho.
The Fire rank among the NAIA leaders offensively, sitting 18th nationally in on-base percentage (.440), 20th in extra-base hits (192), 25th in OPS (.932), and 32nd in home runs (58). The pitching staff has been equally important, ranking ninth nationally with a 4.24 ERA while averaging 8.95 strikeouts per nine innings.
Southeastern has consistently controlled games early. The Fire are 18-3 when scoring in the first inning, 29-7 when scoring first, and 40-1 when leading after six innings. They are also 32-7 when hitting at least one home run and 12-1 when hitting multiple home runs in a game.
The lineup has been especially productive in situational hitting opportunities. SEU is batting .336 with runners on base, .347 with runners in scoring position, and .373 with the bases loaded. The Fire have also recorded 203 productive outs advancing runners this season.
The Fire have been effective against all styles of pitching, batting .313 against left-handed pitchers and .320 against right-handers. Southeastern is also 38-11 in day games and 34-3 when out-hitting opponents this season.
Defensively, Southeastern has turned 92 double plays while holding opponents to a .263 team batting average. The Fire have committed 93 errors in 59 games and carry a .954 fielding percentage into the World Series.
Southeastern is seeking its third national championship after previously winning the Red Banner in both 2018 and 2022. The Fire also reached the World Series championship series last season before finishing as national runner-up. Southeastern has now qualified for the World Series in every season since 2018 aside from the canceled 2020 season.
Lineup Built for October
Freshman outfielder
Armani Cozza enters the World Series as one of the top freshmen in the NAIA after earning Sun Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors. Cozza is batting .372 with 61 hits, 66 runs scored, 16 doubles, six home runs, and 47 RBIs in 52 games. He has recorded 20 multi-hit games this season while also stealing 12 bases. During the Opening Round, Cozza homered twice, including a leadoff home run in the if-necessary game against British Columbia, and has scored a run in seven of Southeastern's last eight games.
Nathaniel Hopkins has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Fire lineup all season. The First Team All-Conference infielder is batting .370 with 68 hits, 57 runs scored, 17 doubles, four home runs, and 48 RBIs while leading the team with a .485 on-base percentage. Hopkins carried an 18-game hitting streak into the Opening Round final against British Columbia, the longest by a Southeastern player since 2024, and has now reached base safely in 26 consecutive games entering the World Series.
Cooper Ciesielski has provided the Fire with their most productive power bat this season. The First Team All-Conference selection is hitting .386 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and 50 RBIs while posting a .690 slugging percentage. Ciesielski leads the team in batting average, slugging percentage, and total bases despite appearing in only 49 games. He has recorded 20 multi-hit games and already has two home runs during postseason play.
Cade Parry has anchored the middle of the lineup throughout the season. The Second Team All-Conference first baseman leads Southeastern with 57 RBIs while batting .327 with 64 hits, 14 doubles, and nine home runs. Parry has produced 17 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI games this season, including several key performances during conference and postseason play.
Charlie Collins has been one of Southeastern's hottest hitters late in the season. Collins is batting .352 with 56 hits, 10 doubles, seven home runs, and 35 RBIs while posting a .467 on-base percentage. He tied a Southeastern postseason record with five hits in the Opening Round elimination win over Milligan on May 13 and has produced 15 multi-hit games this season.
Jace Essig has been a key contributor both offensively and defensively for the Fire. Essig is batting .314 with 54 runs scored, 30 RBIs, five home runs, and 16 stolen bases while reaching base at a .471 clip. He enters the World Series having reached base in 24 straight games and helped spark the Opening Round clincher against British Columbia by hitting back-to-back home runs with Cozza to open the game.
Southeastern also features several additional experienced contributors throughout the lineup.
Paul Wittmann has scored 57 runs and stolen 27 bases while playing multiple defensive positions,
Dayne Wimberly has added 33 RBIs and 40 hits in 43 games, and
Brock McMullen has reached base at a .472 rate while handling the majority of innings behind the plate.
Braden Bartholomae has also contributed 30 RBIs while batting just under .300 during the season.
Deep Staff Gives Fire Options
Byler Reither has been the top starter for Southeastern throughout the season. The First Team All-Conference right-hander enters the World Series with a 9-2 record and a 3.75 ERA over 72 innings while striking out 55 batters. Reither has worked at least five innings in all but two starts this season, and the Fire are 11-2 in games he starts. During the Opening Round, he threw a seven-inning complete-game shutout against Milligan in an elimination game.
Austin Peddycoart has filled multiple roles for Southeastern this season, making nine starts while also pitching in relief appearances. The Second Team All-Conference arm is 5-2 with a 4.30 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched. His strongest outings included six shutout innings against Ave Maria and a seven-strikeout performance against Warner.
Blake Albritton has been one of the most reliable innings-eaters on the staff. Albritton owns a 6-2 record with a 3.49 ERA across 67 innings while limiting opponents to a .265 batting average. He has made both starts and relief appearances this season and delivered one of Southeastern's biggest postseason performances by throwing seven innings against British Columbia in the Opening Round final, allowing only two runs.
Peyten Czekalewski has become an important multi-inning option for the Fire bullpen. The sophomore is 4-0 with a 4.26 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 31.2 innings while holding opponents to a .224 batting average. Czekalewski threw four scoreless innings in the Opening Round clincher against British Columbia and has appeared in both starting and relief situations this season.
Hayden Givens-Craig has emerged as one of the top relief arms on the roster late in the year. In 20 appearances, Givens-Craig has posted a 0.52 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 17.1 innings while holding opponents to a .141 batting average. He has not allowed an earned run in 18 of his 20 appearances this season and has become a regular late-inning option during postseason play.
The Fire also have additional experienced depth available on the mound entering the World Series.
Micah Earwood has posted a 0.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 19 relief innings,
Parker Lambeth has added 20 strikeouts across 25.2 innings in multiple bullpen roles, and
Brody McMullen has contributed 39 strikeouts while working in both starting and relief assignments this season.
Fire History in Lewiston
Southeastern has become one of the most consistent programs in the NAIA Baseball World Series over the last decade. The Fire enter this year's tournament with a 20-11 all-time record in Lewiston and are making their ninth consecutive World Series appearance. Since first reaching the event in 2018, Southeastern has advanced to at least the semifinal round four times and reached the championship series three times.
The Fire captured their first national championship in 2018, winning five straight games after opening the tournament with a victory over Oklahoma City. Southeastern defeated Faulkner, Freed-Hardeman, and host Lewis-Clark State during the run before clinching the title with a second victory over Freed-Hardeman.
In 2022, Southeastern returned to the top of the sport with another national championship run. The Fire defeated Georgia Gwinnett, LSU Shreveport, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Lewis-Clark State during the tournament, including an 11-5 victory over the Warriors in the winner-take-all championship game.
Southeastern continued its postseason success in recent seasons, reaching the semifinal round in 2023 before advancing to the championship series again in 2025. Last season, the Fire defeated Webber International, Georgia Gwinnett twice, and LSU Shreveport before finishing as national runner-up.
The Fire have also built strong familiarity with much of this year's field. Southeastern is 7-2 all-time against host Lewis-Clark State, 7-8 against Georgia Gwinnett, 3-2 against Tennessee Wesleyan, and 3-2 against Taylor. The Fire are also 1-0 all-time against Johnson after defeating the Royals 13-3 at a neutral-site game in West Point, Georgia, on Jan. 28, 2017.
