LAKELAND, Fla. – The Spring Arbor University baseball team overcame a three-run deficit and tied the game in the ninth inning, but a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth allowed Southeastern University to walk-off with a 7-6 victory on Tuesday night.

The Cougars trailed 6-3 heading into the seventh inning, but narrowed the deficit to one following a clutch two-out, two-RBI double by Alex Holley.

Southeastern (16-12) threatened to break the game open in the home half of the seventh, though, loading the bases with no outs. However, Duncan Patterson struck out the next three batters to escape the jam.

After a scoreless eighth, SAU was down to its last chance in the ninth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Adam Rojas battled for 10 pitches before ripping a single through the left side of the infield to bring in the tying run. Head coach Sam Riggleman waved Holley around from second as the potential go-ahead run, but he was thrown out at the plate to send the game to the bottom of the ninth tied at 6-6.

In the bottom of the frame, Southeastern put the leadoff batter on and immediately sacrificed him to second. After a groundout moved the runner to third, the Fire got the key hit they needed to come away with the win.

Holley finished the night going 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBI's and a run scored. Rojas also registered two RBI's while picked up a pair hits.

Spencer Goebel got a no decision after pitching five innings and surrendering six runs while striking out seven. Drew Weston tossed a scoreless inning of relief and Patterson worked 2.2 innings allowing one run and fanning six.

Spring Arbor (1-4) will return to the field on Thursday, Mar. 10 with games against Saint Ambrose University (4-4) and Siena Heights University (2-0).

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