Lake Wales, FL – The 12th ranked Webber International Baseball team split Friday's doubleheader against Warner, taking the opener 7-6 before falling 8-5 in the second game. The Warriors used a fast start and held off a late rally in game one, while Warner answered back in the nightcap despite Webber collecting 11 hits. Earlier in the day, the Warriors clinched their first ever Sun Conference Regular Season Title.
Webber wasted no time getting the offense started in the opener, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Keegan Martin opened the game with a single down the left-field line before moving to third on a single from Ty Mathews. Jalen Martinez brought Martin home with a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Warriors the early lead. Mike Cuello followed with an RBI double down the right-field line to score Mathews, and Will Gisriel capped the inning with an RBI single to right field that brought Cuello across for a 3-0 advantage.
The Warriors added four more runs in the second inning to build a 7-0 lead. David Zamora started the frame with a single and later scored when Mathews was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Martinez followed with an RBI single to left field, scoring Martin, before Cuello reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Tugg Hollandsworth to score. Gisriel then delivered again, doubling down the left-field line to bring in Martinez and give Webber a seven-run cushion.
Warner began to chip away late, scoring once in the sixth before putting together a five-run seventh inning. The Royals brought the tying run into scoring position, but Zach Hessler entered and recorded the final two outs to secure the save and preserve the 7-6 Webber victory.
Gisriel led the Warriors offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Martinez finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Cuello drove in two runs and added a double. Martin scored twice, and Zamora added a hit, a run scored and a stolen base.
On the mound, Ryan Franklin started and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out one. Tyler Helton earned the win after working three innings in relief, allowing one run with one strikeout. Hessler picked up the save after closing the door in the seventh.
Warner struck first in game two, scoring twice in the bottom of the first and adding another run in the second to take a 3-0 lead. Webber answered in the top of the third with a three-run inning to tie the game. Nomar Vazquez doubled, and Martin followed with an RBI double to left field to get the Warriors on the board. After Martinez singled and Mike Cuello entered as a runner, Gisriel came through with a two-run single to center field, scoring Cuello and Martin to even the score at 3-3.
The Royals regained the lead with a run in the bottom half of the third, but Webber responded again in the fourth. Kaleb Henry singled to start the inning, moved around the bases, and scored when Vazquez grounded out to second base, tying the game at 4-4.
Warner broke the game open in the seventh, scoring three runs to take a 7-4 lead. Webber cut into the deficit in the eighth when Matty Davis singled to right field, advanced on a wild pitch, moved to third on a flyout from Henry, and scored on another wild pitch. The Warriors brought traffic to the bases again in the ninth after Martin singled and Martinez walked, but Warner escaped the threat to hold on for the 8-5 decision.
Martin, Martinez, Henry and Case McClelland each recorded two hits for Webber in game two. Martin doubled, scored once and drove in a run, while Gisriel finished with two RBIs. Henry added a double and a run scored, Vazquez doubled and drove in a run, and Davis added a hit and scored Webber's final run.
Jalen Martinez started on the mound and worked three innings, allowing four runs, only one earned, while striking out two. Austin Dobbins threw four innings in relief and struck out four, while Noah Schoncheck pitched the final inning for the Warriors.
The Warriors needed either one win over the Royals or a Southeastern loss to New College of Florida on Friday to officially clinch the SUN Regular Season Title. The Fire lost to the Mighty Banyans before Game 1 between the Warriors and the Royals, but the Game 1 Victory was the cherry on top.
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