Babson Park, FL– The Webber International baseball team hosted Mount Mercy for day two of the four-game series. Early offensive efforts paired with strong pitching performances led the Warriors past the Mustangs in game one of the day. The Mustangs took game two with a vengeance. With this, the Warriors move to 8-3 on the season.
GAME ONE: WARRIORS SQUEEZE PAST MUSTANGS, 8-7.
Dylan Martin earns the win for game one as he pitched six innings of scoreless baseball with seven strikeouts and only one hit.
Offensively, Tyren Milliner led the Warriors going 5-3 with 2 RBIs. Ian Kalman and Jonathan Vega spearheaded the scoring, both with two runs in the game. Joseph Becker and Richard Rodriguez both managed two hits and a single run to help boost the Warriors to a victory.
Webber opened the season with one scoreless inning before Camren Carroll got things rolling with a single in the second inning. Milliner doubled to bring in run number 1 before Mount Mercy got the third out.
Martin had two swinging strikeouts and allowed his defense to back him as a pop up to Jarrett May closed the perfect inning. The Warriors wasted no time as Becker took a walk. A Mustang error allowed for Brodey Neveker to reach first base and advanced Becker. The two runners then moved into scoring position as the Mustangs were called for a balk. Kalman brought in the two runners with a stand up double to make it 3-0. May singled to bring in Kalman to make it a quick four run lead before the third out.
Dylan Martin had another successful inning as two outfield flies and a swinging strike held the Mustangs to another scoreless inning. Both defenses fought diligently through two scoreless innings before a short rain shower delayed the game.
After the break, the Warriors added another run to the board off a triple from Tedders. Brighton Taylor came in to pitch in the top of the seventh for the Warriors, as he grabbed a strikeout and a pop-out before the Mustangs got one aboard. An error on the Warriors then allowed three Mustangs in scoring position before a grand slam brought everyone in to cut the deficit to one. A fly out to Becker put the Warriors back on offense.
Two walks and a sacrificial ground out put Webber in scoring position before a single from R. Rodriguez brought in a cushion run for the Warriors. Gabriel Dorsey came in to pitch in the top of the 8th inning. He got three outs on the three batters he saw to end the inning quickly. The Warriors were met with a scoreless inning.
A few errors caused the Warriors to retire Dorsey in the top of the 9th as Seth Lovell came in to close out the inning for Webber, but not before the Mustangs tied it up at 7 apiece. Milliner closed the game with a walk-off RBI to boost the Warriors to 8-2 on the season.
GAME TWO: WARRIORS FALL TO MUSTANGS, 8-6
Ivan Martinez-Suarez got his first start of the year and pitched four innings, had four strikeouts, and only allowed four runs.
Joseph Becker went 2-3 with two runs to lead the Warriors offense. Tyren Milliner brought in four runs, including a 2 RBI homerun in the bottom of the 3rd inning to give the Warriors the lead.
The Warriors continued their defensive slate with Martinez-Suarez on the mound. Mount Mercy attacked first as they notched two runs in the top of the first. The Warriors then responded with two runs of their own to make it 2-2. An error then allowed Milliner to reach first and brought in two more runs to give the Warriors a two-run lead.
The Mustangs responded with two more runs to tie the game once again in the top of the 2nd inning. After an inning of scoreless ball, Milliner sent a ball to the lake for a two-run homerun, making it 6-2 for the Warriors. After a blank fifth inning, Manuel Meilan came in for the Warriors. He is awarded the loss as he allowed four runs to come across to which the Warriors were unable to answer.
Webber will be back in action on Wednesday, February 21st as they are set to host a single game against Florida National at 1 PM.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Warrior Athletics. Please visit www.webberathletics.com. Follow us on Twitter- @WebberAthletics, Instagram- @Webber_Athletics, and Facebook by searching Webber International University Athletics.
