BABSON PARK, Fla. (January 25, 2019) – The No. 18 Webber International University baseball team came through on opening day 2019 with a 10-3 win over their Crooked Lake rival Warner University on Friday night at the Heart of Florida Baseball Field.

Webber, which was picked No. 18 in the 2019 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll and was also selected third in The Sun Conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll over the offseason, is poised to have one of its best seasons ever after earning back-to-back trips to the NAIA Opening Round over the last two seasons and bringing home the program's first-ever Sun Conference Tournament Championship in 2018.

The Warriors scored nine runs in a three-inning span starting in the second inning when Cristian Rivera ripped a two-run double to right center.

In the bottom of the third inning, Marcus Begg doubled to left field to bring in Norberto Navarro, Carlo Mancillas hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Willie Carter, and then Carlos Pino doubled to left center to bring in Begg.

In the fourth, Webber put up a four-spot as Navarro hit another sacrifice fly to center to score Garrett Martin, Carter homered to left center, Mancillas singled to center to score Begg, and then Mancillas eventually scored from third when Josh Navedo got caught in a rundown between first and second.

In all, the Warriors smacked four doubles, two of which came from Begg, who reached base four times in total by adding two walks. Additionally, Carter, Begg and Pino both finished with two hits; Mancillas and Rivera both finished with two runs batted in; and Navarro, Carter, Begg and Mancillas both scored twice.

On the mound, starter Zak Spivy (1-0) pitched six innings while allowing only one run, which was unearned, and striking out four batters.

Warner, which was selected to finish eighth out of nine teams in The Sun Conference, committed six errors on the day leading to four unearned runs for the Warriors.

After another meeting with the Royals tomorrow on Saturday, January 26, at 12 p.m. on Warner's campus, Webber will then get a huge test in some more nonconference action against another TSC opponent, No. 6 St. Thomas University. The Warriors will welcome to Bobcats to Babson Park, Florida, for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday, February 1, followed by a 1 p.m. game time on Saturday, February 2 on the Heart of Florida Field.