FORT MYERS, Fla. – Upsets marked the first day of the Sun Conference Baseball Tournament, as only one of the top seeds won Friday at City of Palms Park.
Top seed USCB was the only higher-seeded team to win its opener, holding off a late rally to beat No. 6 seed Warner 8-7 in the first game of the day.
Brandon Joyce went 4-for-4 with four RBIs for the Sand Sharks. John Gora allowed three runs over seven innings for the win, and Blake Drew recorded the final out for his ninth save.
No. 5 seed Southeastern put up five runs in the first inning to chase starter Alejandro Kan and won a slugfest, 11-6 over No. 2 seed St. Thomas, in the second game of the day.
Angel Garced went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, Derek Martin was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Chris Mattison had an RBI double and a solo home run to power the Fire. Nate Harmon allowed four runs – all unearned – in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win, and Jonathan Martin struck out two over two perfect frames for his first save.
Fourth-seeded Keiser beat No. 3 seed Webber International 15-4 in the finale, as Keivan Berges went 4-for-5 with a home run and scored four runs. Brad Myott was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, Tyler Goff added three hits and two RBIs, and Daniel Arroyo knocked in three runs for the Seahawks.
Keiser scored 14 runs in the first three innings, and Kyle Keatts gave up just two hits and a walk over six frames for the win.
Warner and St. Thomas will meet in an elimination game at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by a matchup between USCB and Webber International at 3 p.m. Southeastern and Keiser will square off in the finale at 7 p.m.