BABSON PARK, Fla. (January 26, 2021) – In what was the 2021 season opener for the nationally-recognized Webber International University baseball team, the Warriors fell 6-3 against the No. 15 ranked team in the NAIA, Keiser University, on Tuesday night on the Heart of Florida Baseball Field.

It was the first season opener since 2008 that Webber (0-1) did not open up its new campaign against its rival Warner University, a stretch of 12 seasons that saw the Warriors go 8-4 against the Royals.

In this season opener, Keiser (3-0) scored first, plating a run with a hit by pitch in the top of the first after three singles earlier in the inning.

The Warriors answered with a run in the bottom of the third as Rougie Odor tripled down the left field line with one out and then scored on an error by the Seahawks' pitcher one batter later. Odor started the game 3-for-3 before finishing 3-for-5.

Then after starting pitcher Bryce McDonald exited after pitching five innings allowing only the one run and seven hits while walking two and striking out five, Keiser went back ahead in the top of the sixth by scoring twice on two hits, one hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly in the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Webber tried to cut its deficit in half as Luis Acevedo singled through the right side with one out, took second base on a wild pitch with two outs and then advanced to third on a balk, but unfortunately a lineout ended the threat. One half inning later, the missed opportunity came back to bite the Warriors as the Seahawks scored three runs with two outs in the top of the eighth to take control of the game.

Those three runs in the top of the eighth would prove to be the difference in the game as the Warriors got two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out double down the right field line by Angel Diaz, who was followed by a triple to left center by Dominique Collie Jr. to make it 7-3.

Collin Martin, Webber's second-year head coach, said after the game, "It was good for all of us to get back on the field. Bryce [McDonald] did a good job of giving us a chance to win. It's time to get back to work and focus on Friday with Florida National."

Next up for Webber will be its first three-game series of the new season as the Warriors host Florida National University at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 29, followed by a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 30. The Warriors defeated FNU in two of their three meetings last season, and are 4-2 against FNU since 2018.