Lincoln, NE – The Webber International Baseball team has controlled their destiny in the Opening Round of the NAIA Tournament, taking down both Indiana Wesleyan and Concordia (NE) to put themselves in the driver's seat. The Warriors only need to win one more game with the chance to head back to Lewiston, Idaho for the Avista NAIA World Series on the horizon.
Game 1: Webber International 5, Indiana Wesleyan 4
In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, Webber International walked off Indiana Wesleyan 5-4 thanks to a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Warriors broke a scoreless tie in the second inning when a string of hits, including an RBI single by S. Nitch, put Webber ahead 1-0. Indiana Wesleyan responded with a big fifth inning, scoring four runs, two of which were unearned due to a throwing error. A clutch 2-RBI double from T. Mathews and an RBI groundout from C. Engelsman fueled the Wildcats' surge, giving them a 4-1 lead.
Webber chipped away in the bottom of the fifth as J. Martinez drove in a run with a single down the right field line. The comeback gained traction in the sixth with a double from R. Recio and an RBI single by B. Sanchez, narrowing the deficit to 4-3.
The Warriors completed the comeback in the seventh. R. Rodriguez doubled, and after a walk and wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, Recio tied the game with an infield single. B. Sanchez followed with a go-ahead RBI single to give Webber the 5-4 lead. Closer N. Palmese shut the door in the ninth, earning the save by striking out two and stranding the tying run on base.
Recio (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and Sanchez (2-for-4, 2 RBI) led the way for Webber, while Mathews had two hits and two RBIs for Indiana Wesleyan.
Game 2: Webber International 3, Concordia (NE) 0
In a textbook pitching and defensive showcase, with Blayne Huter on the mound, Webber International shut out Concordia 3-0 behind a late offensive burst and solid bullpen work.
Both teams struggled to cash in early opportunities, with Concordia leaving runners on base in four of the first five innings. Webber had its own troubles converting, including a double play and several failed pickoff attempts that halted momentum.
The breakthrough came in the eighth inning. With two on and one out, J. Martinez launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring J. Smith and R. Rodriguez to give Webber a 3-0 lead. It was the first and only scoring play of the game.
From there, Webber's bullpen dominated. N. Palmese pitched the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out two to secure the win and the combined shutout.
Martinez's home run was one of the highlights of an otherwise quiet day offensively, while Rodriguez and Schulz each contributed two hits and Huter reached a career milestone with 300 career strikeouts as a Webber Warrior. Webber capitalized on four Concordia pickoff miscues and two defensive errors to tilt the game in their favor.
The Warriors will await their next opponent in the form of the winner between the Indiana Wesleyan and Concordia, where they are set to play at 4:00 CDT on Wednesday.
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