LEWISTON, Idaho – Aaron Robertson struck out five in a complete game for Southeastern (Fla.), and the Fire made a pair of fifth-inning runs stick, beating Georgia Gwinnett 2-1 Tuesday at the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston.
Georgia Gwinnett (55-6) pitchers allowed just three hits and only two walks, and both Southeastern runs were unearned to the Grizzlies’ staff. Jon Paul Pennella and John Rossi scored the Southeastern runs, as the Fire improved to 46-13.
Southeastern had a man in scoring position in the second, third, and fourth, but didn’t strike until the fifth, loading the bases before a two-out error allowed a pair of runs. An infield single from David Castillo gave the Fire a baserunner in the eighth, but with two out, Nick Streuer flied out to the warning track in deep center field, leaving the door open for Georgia Gwinnett in the ninth.
Earlier in the game, in the bottom of the fifth, Georgia Gwinnett had two runners put out at the plate, one on a fielder’s choice and another on a pick-off, and the Grizzlies didn’t get another runner past first base until two outs in the ninth, when Joe Quelch doubled home Zayd Brannigan, cutting Southeastern’s lead in half.
Quelch was left stranded, though, as Kyle Norton grounded out, preserving a Robertson’s complete-game that advanced the Fire to a Wednesday night game with LSU Shreveport (La.), at 6:30 p.m. PT.
Georgia Gwinnett will play in Wednesday’s first game, at 3 p.m., an elimination contest against Tennessee Wesleyan. Both games will air on the NAIA Network and Urban Edge Network, at www.naia.org/watch.