MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (May 16, 2022) - The Webber International University baseball team traveled to Miami Gardens, Florida for it's first game in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Warriors battled the Bulldogs of McPherson College in a tight game before a big ninth inning offensively from the Warriors would fuel them to a 13-6 victory.

Xavier Rodriguez would start on the mound for the Warriors (39-19), pitching 5.2 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits and striking out six. Rey Rodriguez and Dawson Young would pitch the final 1.1 and 2.0 innings respectively. Re. Rodriguez would allow just one hit and earn one strikeout while Young gave up two hits and struck out three while earning the win as well.

Webber would pick up the first run of the game in the top of inning number three after a single up the middle from Bryan Eusebio would score Richard Rodriguez. The Warriors would double their lead the very next inning with an RBI-double down the left field line from Ian Kalman. The Bulldogs (39-13) would respond in the bottom of the fourth, scoring their first run of the game on a wild pitch followed by a two-run home run that would earn them a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Warriors would equalize with a sacrifice fly from Angel Diaz. Luis Acevedo would then gift Webber the lead with an RBI-single that would score Eusebio. The next inning, Tyren Milliner would add to the lead with a double to left-center field that would score both Kenny Rodriguez and Drake Dobyanski. Another two-run home run from McPherson in the bottom of the sixth followed by an RBI-single would tie the game yet again, this time at 6-6.

The game would remain in a deadlock until the top of the ninth when the Warriors would explode with seven runs to take a commanding 13-6 lead. An RBI-groundout from Ri. Rodriguez would give Webber the lead followed by an RBI-single through the right side from Eusebio. The Bulldogs would walk home a run before a single up the middle from A. Diaz would score two follwed by a two-RBI double from Tavion Williams, putting the Warriors up by seven.

Eusebio and Acevedo both led the team in hits with three while Eusebio added two RBI's and three runs score. A. Diaz ended 1-for-5 with a run scored and a team-high three RBI's and K. Rodriguez finished 1-for-3 with three walks and three runs scored.

The Warriors will now face the winner of the matchup between St. Thomas University and Middle Georgia State University at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.