West Palm Beach, FL – The No. 4 Warriors clinch the series against the Keiser Seahawks with a clean sweep on day two. Webber took game one 9-5 and came from behind to finish the series with an 8-5 win.
GAME ONE: BIG SEVEN RUN INNING ALLOWS WARRIORS TO FLY PAST SEAHAWKS IN GAME THREE OF THE SERIES.
Dylan Martin notched his third win of the season off his eighth start. Martin pitched five innings and struck out seven batters. Thomas Nelson pitched three shutout innings for his second save. Danny Rodriguez closed the game out, with three quick outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
A two-run homer and a two-run RBI for Ryan Recio spearheaded the Warriors offense. Camren Carroll added two hits and an RBI for Webber, while Brodey Neveker, Gabriel Cruz, and Joseph Becker all garnered hits in the 9-0 win.
An error by the shortstop allowed Ian Kalman aboard with one out. Recio homered with a well-hit ball over the left centerfield wall to give the Warriors an early 2-0 lead. Milliner followed with a single down the left field line before Keiser got the final two outs.
Martin responded with two swinging strikeouts and a fly out to Kalman to put the Warriors back on offense.
Back-to-back errors by the Seahawks put Cruz on third base as Becker stepped to the plate. Becker singled to left field to extend the Warriors' lead to three. Richard Rodriguez reached first on an error by the second baseman. A perfect bunt for Carroll scored Becker to make it 4-0 for Webber. Kalman then took a five-pitch walk, bringing up the big bat of Ryan Recio. The junior transfer singled to left field, scored two more, and forced a KU pitching change. Neveker doubled to left field and brought in two more runs. Bryan Cruz stepped up with a two-out single to left center to score WIU's 9th run of the day.
KU responded with a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning before Recio made the grab in foul territory for out number three.
The Seahawks were able to keep the Warriors at bay and added four runs over the next two innings, as Webber took game one 9-5.
GAME TWO: BAUTISTA CLINCHES THE SERIES AS HE CLIPS THE SEAHAWKS IN 8-5 VICTORY.
Jonathan Bautista kept the Seahawks to just three runs through six innings of work. The Philadelphia, PA native struck out three batters, and only allowed nine batters on the bases. Hunter Youngblood came in for relief in the 7th inning, adding another strike out, as the Seahawks added two runs on two hits. Brighton Taylor took to the mound in the 8th inning, as he got three quick outs to keep KU from scoring. Seth Lovell got his third save of the season as he closed the ninth inning with two strikeouts and a flyout.
Ryan Recio had an incredible game as he went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. Ian Kalman and Case McClelland both added two hits for Webber, and Kalman earned himself another run. Tyren Milliner garnered a base knock and two walks in the Sunday matinee victory.
The Warriors had to battle from behind, as the Seahawks brought three runs across in the bottom of the 1st inning.
Webber responded with back-to-back one-out singles, as Joseph Becker stepped to the plate. A fielder's choice got the second out with runners on the corners. Josh Blackmore due to an error by the short stop, scoring Ian Kalman. A wild pitch and a walk loaded the bases once again, as Gabriel Cruz singled to right center to even the game. Milliner singled to right field to take an early lead as the Warriors headed into the bottom of the 2nd.
A double-play and swinging strikeout kept the Seahawks from responding. Bautista then managed three scoreless innings.
A leadoff walk for Blackmore got things rolling in the top of the 6th inning, as a sac bunt moved pinch-runner, Johnathan Vega, into scoring position. A wild pitch moved Vega to third base as Milliner stepped to the plate. The senior took a walk and stole second to put two in scoring position. Recio singled up the middle, scoring both Milliner and Vega to extend the Warriors' lead. Bryan Morales followed with a double to right field, bringing Recio around. An error by the KU second baseman allowed Kalman aboard and Morales to go from second to home.
Webber's defense held strong as Keiser was unable to convert hits to runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Keiser brought two runs across in the bottom of the seventh to cut WIU's lead to three. Webber took the win as KU was unable to convert bases loaded to runs.
Webber will be back in Babson Park as they host Fisher College for a four-game series on Thursday, March 28th and Saturday, March 30th.
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