Babson Park, FL – The 7th ranked Webber International Baseball team returned to Brad Niethammer Field to open up a SUN Conference series against Crooked Lake Rivals Warner University on Thursday evening. Starting Pitcher Blayne Huter was as good as he's ever been, setting a new career high for strikeouts in a complete game shutout as the Warriors took game one of the series 2-0.
Huter set the tone early, striking out D. Guevara swinging in the top of the first inning. His fastball was electric, complemented by a breaking ball that consistently found the corners of the plate. Warner's batters struggled to make contact, often swinging through pitches or getting caught looking.
Webber International made the most of their early opportunities, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. D. Tedders started with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. B. Sanchez drove in Tedders with an RBI double, putting Webber on the board. Shortly after, J. Martinez delivered an RBI single to bring home Sanchez, giving Webber an early 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, Huter found himself in a slight jam after Jh. Figueroa walked and P. Delgado singled, putting runners at second and third due to a throwing error. Despite the pressure, Huter remained composed and unleashed his best stuff, striking out C. Vincente swinging to halt Warner's momentum. He then forced D. Schumann to pop up and struck out H. Santiago swinging to escape the inning unscathed.
As the game progressed, Huter continued to dominate, especially during the third and fourth innings. In the top of the third, he struck out L. Cedeno looking on a beautifully placed fastball on the outside corner. Huter's mix of pitches kept Warner off-balance, and the fourth inning saw him continue his strikeout spree by fanning P. Delgado and Jh. Figueroa. His breaking ball seemed unhittable, dropping sharply just as Warner's hitters committed to their swings.
Even in the later innings, when fatigue often becomes a factor, Huter maintained his poise and velocity. In the fifth inning, he struck out H. Santiago swinging once again, using his slider to perfection. The eighth inning saw him add another punchout by striking out J. Pereira swinging, showcasing his endurance and ability to maintain his stuff deep into the game.
The Warriors will be back in action on Friday, March 28th for games two and three of the series against the Royals, starting at 2:00 P.M.
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.
