Box Score BABSON PARK, Fla. – The Webber International University Warriors use 4 runs in the first inning to eventually lead to a 9-4 season opening victory over their rivals the Warner University Royals.

The weather was just right, the hotdogs were on the grill, the crowd was filing in, not a cloud in the sky as the sun set, then the lights came on and it was time to begin the 2017 baseball season.

Brady Mintell was given the ball to start the year for the Warriors. He came out with some confidence as he struck out the first two Royals he faced before getting a ground ball to Cristian Rivera at Short Stop to complete the 1-2-3 top of the 1^st.
What ended up being the tale of the night was the Webber offense as they busted out for 4 runs in the bottom of the 1^st inning. Connor Clayton registered the first RBI of the season as he shot a single into right field that scored Manny Rodriguez from second base. Then Daniel Timmons put the ball in play and forced an error by the Royals defense that allowed Matt Saliba to come scampering in plating the 2^nd run of the inning. Jesse Coleman singled into left field scoring Clayton. Mark Martinez then hit a sacrifice fly deep to right field that scored Matt Piatt.

A throwing error by the Royals allowed the Warriors to jump out to a 5-0 lead as Sjaghbar Martis grounded to the second baseman that was then thrown wild allowing Rodriguez to advance across the plate. In the 3^rd inning the Royals got a run across as Rodocker singled in Klingler cutting the lead to 5-1. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Cristian Rivera grounded out to second base that scored Coleman extending the lead to 6-1.

The Royals came out firing in the top of the 5^th inning. With 2 outs and nobody on, Fermin reached on an error by Rivera that eventually led to a 3 run inning for the Royals who cut the lead to 6-4.

The 6^th inning found the Warriors gaining those 3 runs back as Martinez singled in Timmons and Piatt off a base hit to left. Then Rodriguez followed up by singling to left and scoring Coleman taking the score to what would eventually be the final of 9-4.

Mark Martinez had a day as he went 3-4 at the plate with 2 RBI's. Manny Rodriguez hit .1000% on the day as he was 1-1 at the plate with 4 BB's, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI.

Brady Mintell received the win for the Warriors as he pitched 5 innings giving up 4 earned runs off of 6 hits and striking out 4. Matthew Gulik threw a strong 3 innings in relief surrendering 4 hits and no runs with 2 strike outs. Then Zachary Gary finished off the top of the 9^th inning with 2 strike outs and a fly ball.

Webber sits at 1-0 as they took the first game from the Royals in a non-conference matchup. They will take on the Warner Royals again tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. located at Warner for another 9 innings non-conference game. Come on out and support the Warriors!!!