Game Information
Game Score: Keiser 10, No. 1 Southeastern 7
Records: Keiser (31-16, 13-9), No. 1 Southeastern (40-8, 15-4)
Series Record: 1-0, KU
Pitchers of Record: W: Byrd (4-1), L: Wilson (5-1)
Time of Game: 3:00
Weather: 77, Cloudy, 14 MPH WS
Location: Ted A. Broer Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.
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Keiser Highlights
- Juan De La Cruz led the way at the plate with three hits including two solo home runs.
- Drew Reilly, Garrett Hall, and Nate VanKan all had multi-hit contests. Reilly finished with a game-best three runs batted in.
- The Seahawks connected on four home runs including a pair of three-run home runs by Peter Crocitto and Reilly.
- Todd Mercado took a no decision despite throwing a gem over 7.1 innings. He struck out five batters while not giving up a free pass.
- Fletcher Byrd received the win after striking out a pair in 1.2 innings of work.
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Big Moment
After Southeastern tied the game in eighth, Crocitto won the game in the ninth with a two-out, three run home run to right-center as the Seahawks took down the top team in the NAIA, 10-7.
How it Happened
- Southeastern connected on back-to-back home runs in the first to take a 3-0 lead.
- The Seahawks got on the board in the second with a solo home run to right by De La Cruz and took the lead in the third with five runs on four hits.
- Keiser opened with back-to-back walks before Crocitto moved Ezequias Encarnacion to third with a long fly out to right-center.
- Hall brought the Seahawks to within a run with an RBI single through the right-side and Reilly put Keiser on top, 5-3, with a three-run home run to center.
- Following a strikeout, De La Cruz doubled down the left field line and VanKan capped the scoring with an RBI single to center to lead 6-3.
- In the sixth, De La Cruz went yard for a second time this afternoon with a solo home run to right as the lead grew to 7-3.
- The Fire plated four runs on just three hits in the eighth to tie the game at seven-apiece but KU answered in the top of the ninth.
- VanKan drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Miguel Casanueva sacrifice bunt. After Encarnacion flew out to right, Nick Diaz drew a walk of his own. Crocitto then crushed a game-winning, three-run home run to right-center as the Seahawks took game one, 10-7.
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Up Next
These two teams will resume the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon.