MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial won its first game against No. 1 Southeastern since May 2018 in a dominating 7-2 performance at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field. After falling in the doubleheader opener 9-2, the Lions found their rhythm and scored their first win against the Fire in nearly six years.
Gm. 2
FMU 2 - SEU 9
Southeastern opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second. Their offense added four additional runs in the top of the fifth followed by a run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 8-0. The Lions scored their only two runs of the game off a
Raymond Rivera RBI double that scored center fielder
Pheron Charlton and senior
Nathan Harris. The Fire added their ninth run in the top of the seventh and shutout FMU in the bottom of the inning, handing the Lions the 9-2 defeat.
South Carolina native
Stephen West (1-1) was credited with the loss and 1.2 innings pitched allowed one hit, three runs, and three walks while striking out two Fires. Junior
Carlos Solano came in relief and in the remaining 5.1 innings allowed six hits, six runs, and two walks while striking out five Fires.
Gm. 3
FMU 7 - SEU 2
For the first time in the series, FMU scored the opening run, coming from Charlton off an
Eduardo Perez RBI-single. The Lions would hold the lead until SEU scored the game-tying run in the top of the fifth. Tied at 1-1, a throwing error by the Fire allowed junior
Gianni Tusa to score, giving the lead back to FMU. Another Fire throwing error allowed Charlton to score his second run of the game to extend Florida Memorial's lead. Scoring continued with a
Marco Medina RBI that scored third baseman,
Ernie Farrell, opening the Lions' lead to 4-1 on Southeastern.
A quiet sixth and seventh inning was followed by a three-run bottom of the eighth for the Lions. Pinch runner
Te'Jai Jackson scored FMU's fifth run of the game followed by Tusa and catcher
Alejandro Fernandez extending Florida Memorial's lead to 7-1 with one inning remaining. The Fire managed to add a run in the top of the ninth but the FMU defense put any comeback attempts to rest as the team secured the 7-2 victory over Southeastern.
Junior
William Hiciano (5-3) secured the victory on the mound. In seven innings he allowed five hits, one run, and two walks while striking out four Fires. Junior
Jamal Johnson finished on the mound for the Lions and in two innings pitched allowed three hits, one run, and one walk while striking out one Fire.
The Lions return to action Saturday, April 6, where they'll host Southeastern for the final game of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
