Babson Park, FL – The Webber International Baseball team hosted SUN foe Ave Maria University for a single non-conference game Friday night. After the Gyrenes got out ahead, the Warrior Pitching Staff struck out 17 Gyrenes over the course of the game to take the victory 7-4.
Starter Blayne Huter got to work early in the first, striking out two of the first four batters he faced, as a two-out single was the only blemish. Deven Tedders led off the bottom of the first with a single. He then advanced to second on a throwing error by the Gyrenes pitcher. He stole third on a strikeout, but would be stranded 90 feet away after back-to-back outs.
A leadoff bloop single for the Gyrenes was followed by a flyout and a strikeout. Two more singles gave Ave Maria a 1-0 lead, and a third straight single made it 2-0, before the batter was thrown out a second trying to swipe another bag. The Warriors first four at bats were a walk, a groundout, another walk, and a single to load the bases with one out. Camren Carroll lined out for a sacrifice fly to score Branden Sanchez from third, and although a wild pitch moved Jalen Martinez and Nicholas Badillo to second and third, a groundout ended the inning with the score at 2-1.
Huter picked up his fourth and fifth strikeouts of the evening in the third, with the second one culling runners on the corners with two outs for the Gyrenes. The Warriors went down 1-2-3 in the third.
Huter went 1-2-3 in the fourth, with two more strikeouts, bringing his total to seven. Brandon Sanchez singled down the left field line to start the bottom of the fourth. After a strikeout, Badillo and Martinez both singled to load the bases again for Carroll. This time, he laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on the fielders choice, tying the game at 2-2 with runners on the corner, with J'Quann Smith coming in to run for Caroll. Tedders then cleared the bases on a two RBI triple, making it 4-2 Warriors.
A leadoff homer made It 4-3 Warriors, but Huter responded ensuite, striking out three of the next four batters, bringing his total to 10 strikeouts on the night. Nate Cannazarro responded in kind with a solo homer of his own, giving Webber a 5-3 lead. The Warriors went down in order after.
Jacob Hardy took over on the mound for Huter in the sixth inning. He was near perfect in his first inning of work, striking out two batters while only giving up a single. Webber went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
A double and a single had runners on the corners for the Gyrenes with one out. Although Hardy induced a strikeout, a throwing error on a pickoff attempt from Carroll allowed the runner to score from third, making it 5-4, before another strikeout ended the top of the seventh inning. Cannizzaro was the only bright spot in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a two-out double.
Noah Palmese checked into the game in the top of the eighth and immediately began attacking the Gyrenes at the plate. He induced two straight strikeouts to start his night before a groundout ended the Gyrenes efforts. Sanchez and Becker both singled to start the eighth. A Badillo sacrifice bunt advanced both runners to second and third. Martinez singled, scoring Sanchez, before Carroll laid down another sacrifice bunt, but reaching base on the fielder's choice, scoring Becker. Strikeouts would end the inning but not before the score became 7-4.
Palmese got a flyout and a lineout before ending the night with his third strikeout of the evening, giving the Warriors the 7-4 victory.
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