MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (May 19, 2022) - After falling in game one of the championship matchup against No. 8 St. Thomas University, 8-2, the Webber International University baseball team would face them for the third time in a row on Thursday afternoon. It would prove to be another close competitive game until the Warriors would blow it open in the top of the ninth to earn the 17-6 victory as well as their first trip to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series in program history.

Xavier Rodriguez would take the mound at the start for the Warriors (41-20), allowing three runs on four hits and picking up three strikeouts in his 3.1 innings of action. Dylan Martin would enter the game in relief to throw the next three innings. He gave up two runs on two hits and struck out two and would then hand it over to Dawson Young who would finish off the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs and just a single hit while striking out three.

Webber would open the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI-single to right field from Tyren Milliner that would bring home Drake Dobyanski for the first run of the game. St. Thomas (41-19) would quickly respond with a four-run bottom half of the inning that included a three-run home run that earned it a 4-1 lead. The Warriors' offense would strike again in the top of the second after Dobyanski would fire a two-run homer over the left field wall. A single to center field from Bryan Eusebio would score Kenny Rodriguez and a triple down the left field line from Milliner would bring home Eusebio to regain the lead for the Warriors at 5-4.

The Warriors would add to its lead in the top of the fourth inning after RBI-singles from both Tommy Diaz and Luis Acevedo would make it a three-run game. A solo home run from the Bobcats in the bottom of the sixth would cut into the lead but Dobyanski would supply another RBI-single to score Angel Diaz in the top of the seventh to restore the three-run lead. St. Thomas would refuse to go down as they would bring home another run in the bottom half of the seventh with a sacrifice fly to right field.

It would remain a two-run game until the top of the ninth, where there Warriors would blow the game open with a nine-run inning. The scoring would begin with RBI-singles from Richard Rodriguez and Eusebio. Then, another single up the middle from Milliner would bring home two more runs. An RBI-single from Acevedo followed by an error would score another two runs. The Warriors would bat around the lineup in the inning as Ri. Rodriguez would get his second RBI-single of the inning followed by another RBI-single this time by K. Rodriguez. After adding a hefty number of insurance runs, Webber would have a one-two-three bottom of the ninth that included two swinging strikeouts delivered by Young.

Webber was led offensively by Dobyanski who ended the game 4-for-4 with a home run, three RBI's, two walks, and three runs scored. He was followed by Milliner who finished with a game-high four RBI's and was 4-for-6 with a triple and a run scored. Eusebio tied Dobyanski for the lead in runs scored with three while going 3-for-7 and adding two RBI's. Acevedo and Ri. Rodriguez both added two RBI's as well.

It is Webber's first NAIA Opening Round Championship as well as its first NAIA World Series Appearance. The Warriors will now head to Lewiston, Idaho for their shot at the National Championship which will take place from Thursday, May 26, to Friday, June 3.