LEWISTON, Idaho- Tennessee Wesleyan paired a 16-hit performance and a strong outing on the mound from Justin Jackson to earn an 8-5 victory over Southeastern (Fla.) on Thursday afternoon at Harris Field.

The Bulldogs jumped ahead in the second inning when Ethan Wright lined a two-run single to center to score Brayan Espinoza and Kolton Reynolds. Southeastern answered in the bottom half after Paul Wittmann stole third and scored on a throwing error to make it 2-1.

TWU added to its lead in the third when Allan Gil Fernandez connected on a two-run homer to right-center, bringing home Hagen Escoto for a 4-1 advantage.

The Fire cut the deficit to one in the fourth on Braden Bartholomae’s two-run single to left that scored Cort Pryor and Charlie Collins. The Bulldogs answered in the fifth with hits from David Ballenilla and Reynolds to extend the lead to 6-3.

Tennessee Wesleyan added unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings to push the margin to 8-3, taking advantage of Southeastern errors. 

SEU mounted a late rally in the eighth. Pryor delivered an RBI single up the middle before Brock McMullen reached on a single, and another run scored on a throwing error, trimming the deficit to 8-5. Tennessee Wesleyan secured the remaining outs of the contest and earned the win.

Ballenilla led the Bulldogs offensively, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Espinoza added three hits, Reynolds finished with two hits and an RBI double, and Fernandez drove in two runs with his home run.

Jackson (13-1) earned the win after allowing three runs on eight hits over seven innings. He struck out three and did not issue a walk. Cameron Goffar worked the final two innings for Tennessee Wesleyan.

Southeastern starter Byler Reither took the loss after allowing four runs in 2.1 innings.

The Bulldogs will return to the diamond on Friday, with their opponent dependent on the outcome of another game.