LAKELAND, Fla.— The Montreat College baseball team continued its season-opening series against the No. 3-ranked Southeastern University Fire on Friday with a pair of seven-inning contests. Falling short in both matchups, game one saw a final score of 15-3, while game two featured a 15-2 final. The pair of losses kept the Cavaliers winless on the year at 0-3 overall, while Southeastern remained undefeated at 3-0.
The first inning of the initial clash was scoreless despite both teams finding some baserunners. Zachary Long's leadoff single in the top of the second showed some life, but it was quickly shut down by a Southeastern double play. Meanwhile, the bottom of the second was fruitful for the Fire, capitalizing on a fielding error to get their scoring started. A double and a homer helped Southeastern plate six more, leading to a 7-0 SEU advantage heading into the third.
A pitching change for Montreat led to Hayden Brooks tossing a scoreless third frame, keeping the deficit right where it was at. The Fire found some more run support in the fourth, as a pair of hit-by-pitches set up a 2-RBI double to further extend the hosts' lead. Southeastern managed to scratch one more across before the inning ending, giving them a 10-0 advantage.
The Cavaliers were finally able to break through in the sixth. Connor Goff and Tommy Ramos came up with two hits, putting them at second and third with nobody out. Gustavo Gonzalez seized the opportunity, plating both baserunners with a double down the left field line. A groundout to second from Long advanced Gonzalez to third, and he scored on Jack Weisman's extra-base knock moments later. Despite the late rally by Montreat, the Fire held on to secure a 15-3 victory in game one.
Both teams were even in the hit column (9-9), with SEU holding the advantage in strikeouts (10-4). Both teams also committed one error defensively.
Ryan Henrickson pitched two innings, allowing seven runs on four hits, and he struck out one batter while walking three. Brooks contributed two innings in relief, giving up a trio of runs on two hits and two HBPs. Daniel Paton pitched only 1/3 innings in relief and surrendered four runs on two hits with two walks. Rhett Yurko finished the game for Montreat, throwing 1 2/3 innings, surrendering one run on one hit, with two strikeouts and three hit batters.
Gonzalez delivered a strong performance by recording two hits and two RBIs, along with a double in his at-bats. Ramos added a double as well and crossed the plate once. Wilmer Bolivar contributed with a pinch-hit double. Goff entered as a substitute and made an impact by scoring a run and securing a hit in his appearance.
As game two got underway, it mirrored game one with a scoreless first. Ashe Ammerlaan started off strong for the Cavs, going three up, three down with a pair of punchouts along the way. Montreat struck first in the score column, as Hunter Furches led off the second inning with a base hit and then advanced on a wild pitch. Gonzalez put down a successful sacrifice bunt, moving Furches to third. Dawson Bryant finished the job with a grounder to third, scoring Furches and putting the Cavaliers up 1-0.
Like game one, Southeastern responded with a big second inning, capitalizing on two hit batters and six walks to score seven runs. The Fire tacked on four more in the third, and the Cavs quickly found themselves in an 11-1 hole heading into the fourth.
Hunter Rast came in for the visitors in the fourth, and he was able to put together a scoreless frame using a strikeout and a double play. Matthew Brunner then pushed across another run in the top of the fifth via a grounder to second. The Fire weren't done scoring either, though, as they added four more runs across the last three innings. As a result, game two ended with a final score of 15-2.
Ammerlaan started on the mound for the Cavaliers and pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on no hits, with three walks and two hit batters. Nick Kantzavelos followed with 1 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on three hits, with four walks and one hit batter. Rast contributed one inning, giving up no earned runs on one hit. Isaiah Pappas hurled one inning, allowing three unearned runs on two hits, while striking out one. Finally, Nick Pope concluded the pitching effort with one inning of work, yielding one earned run on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.
Brunner drove in a run with a groundout, contributing to the scoreboard. Justin Austin reached base with a hit and a hit by pitch. Furches recorded a hit and scored a run. Bryant brought in a run with a groundout, adding to the team's offensive efforts.
Montreat will conclude its four-game road series against No. 3 Southeastern on Saturday, Jan. 31, with first pitch set for 11 a.m. in Lakeland, Fla.
