Thomasville, GA – The Webber International Baseball team opened up its season in Thomasville, Georgia to take on former SUN Conference Thomas University Friday evening. With starting pitcher Blayne Huter getting the nod, the Warriors struck first and often, taking down the Nighthawks 7-1, to start the season 1-0.
After a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Warriors, Huter got to work, striking out the first two batters he faced, before getting a groundout to end the inning.
After a strikeout, Jean Cuello was the Warriors first baserunner, drawing a walk. Brandon Sanchez then brought Cuello home with a double down the left field line to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. A Gabriel Cruz single scored Sanchez, and after Camren Carroll was hit by a pitch with two outs, a flyout ended the top of the second. Huter got another strikeout to start the second inning before a lineout, and a runner reaching on an error gave the Nighthawks their first baserunner of the night. A groundout would end the threat.
Joseph Becker walked to start the third, then proceeded to steal both second and third base. After a throwing error by the Thomas catcher, Becker would score, making it 3-0. A groundout by Drew Stubbs would be followed by a home run from Cuello, extending the lead to 4-0. Huter would again get the first out on a groundout to him, before a single gave Thomas another baserunner. Huter would then get a popout and a flyout to end the third.
Cruz and Carroll each got on base, due to a hit by pitch and a walk respectively, but they would be the only baserunners for Webber in the fourth, after two flyouts and a strikeout. The Nighthawks would score their only run of the game in the fourth inning, after a single and multiple errors advanced the runner home.
Both pitchers exchanged 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, with Cuello providing the only strikeout.
Sanchez doubled to start the sixth inning and would be brought home on back-to-back groundouts, making it 5-1. Huter hummed through the bottom of the sixth, facing four batters and recording another strikeout.
J'Quann Smith drew a walk in the top of the seventh inning, before immediately stealing second, then taking third on a throwing error. A Becker single scored Smith before Becker advanced to second off a single from Ryan Recio. After a Nighthawks pitching change, a double steal attempt saw Becker thrown out at third but Recio make it to second. Stubbs singled down the right field line, scoring Recio, to make it 7-1 Warriors. Mark Link replaced Huter in the bottom of the seventh inning, and, after a leadoff walk, found the double play ball, before another walk and a flyout ended the inning.
Outside of a walk by Carroll, the Nighthawks struck out the Warrior side in the top of the eighth inning. Two singles and a walk gave Thomas bases loaded with one out for Link, who stepped up in the face of danger to get a looking strike out and a groundout to survive the inning without giving up a run.
Becker, Stubbs, and Deven Tedders all reached for the Warriors in the top of the ninth inning, but were not brought home, ending the Warriors scoring at seven runs. After a groundout and a walk, Link struck out the final two batters to secure the win and the three inning save for the Warriors.
Huter finished his night with four strikeouts, two hits, and one run in 6.0 innings of work. Link matched Huter's strikeout rate, fanning four batters as well, while also giving up two hits. Sanchez led the team with two hits, while Cruz led with two RBI's.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, February 1st as they continue their series with the Nighthawks with a doubleheader starting at 1 P.M. EST.
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