Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Warriors were unable to complete the comeback victory last night over The Master's and were sent into the losing bracket to face Georgia Gwinnett College this morning at 11:00 A.M. After Leading 6-3, the Warriors gave up a 3 run 8^th inning and 1 run in the 9^th and fell to the #1 seed and host, Georgia Gwinnett College 6-7.

GAME NOTES: Sjaghbar Martis Ends Year On 18 Game Hit Streak, Matt Piatt Leads Opening Round Batting Average Going 9-13

The Warriors played their final game of the 2017 season dropping 7-6 to the Grizzlies in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship Lawrenceville Bracket. Both teams entered today's game looking for their 40^th win on the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, none other than Matt Piatt the tournament leader in batting average stepped in and shot a single into left field that scored Manny Rodriguez tying the game at 1-1. The top of the 4^th inning saw the Grizzlies tack on 2 more runs. In the bottom of the 4^th, Cristian Rivera plated Mike Castilla on a base hit up the middle. Manny Rodriguez followed with a single of his own to right field scoring Matt Saliba. An error by the Grizzly right fielder on a pop up from Sjaghbar Martis allowed Cristian Rivera to scamper across for the Warriors 3^rd run of the inning giving them the 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the 5^th, the Warriors pushed another run across as Napo Ballestero had a single to shallow right field. Garrett Martin, the pinch runner for the catcher Ballestero, would move his way around and eventually score on a wild throw off the bat of Mike Castilla. The bottom of the 7^th led to another Warriors run as Napo Ballestero grounded out in the infield but Matt Piatt scored on the ball giving the Warriors a commanding 6-3 lead with just 2 innings to go. The Grizzlies did the unthinkable and found themselves 3 runs in the top of the 8^th to tie the game 6-6. The Warriors went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 8^th sending the game to the 9^th inning at a 6-6 tie. Georgia Gwinnett broke the tie with a sacrifice fly giving them the 7-6 lead. Sjaghbar Martis led off with a single in the bottom of the 9^th. After a pop out by Marcus Begg, Matt Piatt shot a sharp single into right field advancing Martis to 3^rd. The Warriors were poised with a 1^st and 3^rd situation with only 1 out on the board, the tying run at 3^rd and the potential winning run at 1^st. Connor Clayton forced a 7 pitch at bat before going down swinging. Napo Ballestero stepped in with 2 outs as the Warriors last chance, he fired a hard line drive but unfortunately it was right at the Grizzly short stop and was caught for the 3^rd out. The Warriors season came to an end with a 7-6 loss to Georgia Gwinnett College.

STAT LINE
Offensive

Matt Piatt: 3-5. 1-R, 1-RBI
Napo Ballestero: 2-5, 1-RBI
Mike Castilla: 2-3, 1-R
Sjaghbar Martis: 1-5, 1-RBI (18 Game Hit Streak)
Garrett Martin: 0-1, 1-R, 2-SB's

Pitching

Brady Mintell: 4-IP, 4-H, 3-ER, 1-BB, 3-K's
Daniel Timmons: 3-IP, 2-H, 2-ER, 3-K's
Zachary Gary: 2-IP, 1-H
 
FINAL THOUGHTS: With today's hit Sjaghbar Martis ends his season with an 18 game hitting streak. Coach Brad Niethammer ends the season just 9 wins from 700 in his career. Webber International ends their 2017 season with a 39-17 overall record. A Sun Conference 16-8 record and a post season 3-4 record. With 39 wins, they have broken and set the new Webber International University baseball single season win record.
Thank you Warriors for a fantastic season! The 2018 offseason now begins.