BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 10, 2023) - In a top-25 showdown, the Webber International University baseball team hosted the No. 6 Faulkner Eagles in game one of a three-game series on Friday afternoon. The Warriors extended their win-streak to start the season to eight games with a 8-4 victory over the Eagles.

Xavier Rodriguez started on the mound for the Warriors (8-0 overall) and tossed a total of 4.1 innings. He earned his first win of the season, giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out four as well. Those are the only hits and runs that Faulkner (4-2) was allowed in the game.

The bats were hot for both teams right from the start as the Eagles scored all four of their runs in the top of the first inning. The first run came home on an RBI-single which was followed by a three-run home run. The Warriors responded, however, the next half-inning as an RBI-double by Luis Acevedo scored the first run for Webber. A single down the right-field line by Tyren Milliner brought home two more. Bryan Morales double to right-center, scoring Kris Allen and tying the game up at 4-4. With the very next at-bat, Angel Diaz gave the Warriors the lead with a two-run shot over the wall in left-center field.

After scoring a combined 10 runs in the first inning, both pitchers then settled in and delivered four-straight scoreless innings. The Warriors loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth but Faulkner was able to work itself out of the inning. Webber tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning thanks to another RBI-double from Milliner and an RBI-single from Jakob Jackson. Blayne Huter entered the game in relief and threw the final 2.2 innings. He did not give up a single hit and tallied three strikeouts in total.

Milliner was red-hot at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with a double and led the team in RBI's with three. He was followed by A. Diaz who was a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and two RBI's. Acevedo, Morales, and Jackson all tallied two hits and an RBI each in the game. Acevedo and Allen tied for the team-high in runs scored with two each as well.

Game two of the series was started but a wave of heavy rain postponed the game until tomorrow where the two teams will pick up right where they left off. The final two games of the series will be played tomorrow, February 11th, starting at 12 p.m. on Brad Niethammer Field.