MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (May 17, 2022) - The Webber International University baseball team matched up against St. Thomas University in game two of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Warriors won the regular-season series against St. Thomas but fell to the Bobcats twice in the Sun Conference Tournament, both of which were one-run games. This time around, the Warriors came out on top in a tight 5-4 victory after 11 innings, sending them to the championship game.

Dylan Martin would start on the mound for the Warriors (40-19), throwing eight innings and allowing four runs on four hits and picking up five strikeouts. Dawson Young would pitch the final three innings, striking out six of the 12 batters he faced and allowing just one hit.

The Bobcats (39-18) would start the game strong after firing a three-run home run over the left field wall to take an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Webber would get itself on the board in the bottom half of that same inning after a single to right field from Tommy Diaz that would score Drake Dobyanski. St. Thomas would regain its three run lead after a solo home run in the top half of the third. The Bobcats would hold that three-run lead until the bottom of the seventh, where the Warriors would score a run on a balk from St. Thomas before a sacrifice fly from Luis Acevedo brought home Bryan Eusebio to bring them within one run at 4-3.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Richard Rodriguez would send a single into right field to give the Warriors a base runner. He would then advance to second on a wild pitch before a double to left center field from Kenny Rodriguez would bring Ri. Rodriguez home to level the game at 4-4. The game would remain tied and forced into extra innings until the bottom of the 11th inning. Tyren Milliner would lead-off the inning with a single to right field and then be replaced by pinch-runner Tavion Williams. St. Thomas would then walk the bases loaded before, with one out in the inning, Ian Kalman would send a fly ball into center field that would allow Williams to tag up and score the winning run.

Offensively, the Warriors were led by T. Diaz who ended the game 3-for-5 with an RBI followed by Dobyanski who was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and K. Rodriguez who finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and two walks. Milliner also ended the day with two singles to his credit.

The Warriors advance to the championship game of the Miami Gardens bracket and await the winner between McPherson College and St. Thomas University in a matchup that will take place on Wednesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. Webber will face the winner of that game at 2:30 p.m. later that afternoon.