KINGSPORT, Tenn. (May 16, 2023) - The Webber International University baseball team opened its fifth overall NAIA National Championship Opening Round with a matchup against Indiana Wesleyan University, who are receiving votes in the most recent national poll, on Monday evening. It was a tight game throughout, however, the Wildcats scored four in the ninth to seal the 9-4 victory.

Mark Link took to the mound for the Warriors (40-16 overall) and put in a solid 5.0 inning-performance in which he allowed just two runs on two hits and struck out five. Senior Jacob Burr entered the game in relief, pitching 3.2 innings but gave up seven rus on 10 hits before Xavier Rodriguez came in to record the final out.

Webber walked home a run in the first inning to give the Wildcats an early lead. It was quickly erased the following inning as a solo home run by Brody Neveker and an RBI-double from Tommy Diaz earned the Warriors the lead at 2-1. Later in the fourth inning, a solo shot by Indiana Wesleyan knotted the game up at two apiece. A sacrifice fly by Luis Acevedo scored T. Diaz in the bottom half of the fifth, restoring the lead.

A two-run home run in the sixth inning followed by an RBI-single in the seventh, handed the Wildcats a two- run lead at 5-3. Neveker once again homered to right field in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to just one. However, Indiana Wesleyan posted four runs in the final frame to supply a large enough cushion to close out the botom half comfortably.

Neveker ended the game 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI's and two runs scored while T. Diaz was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Tyren Milliner finished 1-for-3 with a double while Bryan Morales and Drake Dobyanski both tallied hits as well.

The Warriors will now face No. 11 Missouri Baptist University today, May 16th at 11 a.m. at Hunter Wright Stadium.