Kingsport, TN — The 8th ranked Webber International Baseball team battled back late, but an early offensive surge from Indiana Wesleyan proved to be the difference as the Warriors fell 10-6 on Monday night at Hunter Wright Stadium in the Warriors' first game of the NAIA Opening Round.
Indiana Wesleyan struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of a Webber miscue and a wild pitch to grab a 1-0 lead. The Warriors answered in the bottom of the third when Keegan Martin reached base and later came around to score on a throwing error after a failed pickoff attempt, tying the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the fourth, plating five runs to take control. After a fielder's choice and throwing error brought in the first run of the inning, Mark Snowden delivered a two-run double to center field. Carson Bush followed with an RBI bunt single before Indiana Wesleyan added another run on a double play to move ahead 6-1.
Webber continued to chip away in the later innings. In the seventh, Kaleb Henry came across to score on an RBI single from Martin, cutting the deficit to 7-2. The Warriors added another run in the eighth when Steven Nitch drove a triple into left center, scoring Will Gisriel and making it 8-3.
Indiana Wesleyan added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, but the Warriors refused to go quietly. In the bottom half, Webber loaded the bases and Ty Mathews delivered a two-run single through the left side, bringing home David Zamora and Nomar Vazquez. Gisriel then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Tugg Hollandsworth and trimming the final margin to four.
Martin led the Warriors at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Nitch added a strong day offensively, going 2-for-5 with a double, triple and an RBI. Mathews drove in two runs, while Hollandsworth reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
On the mound, Jalen Martinez took the start for Webber and struck out four over three innings. Austin Dobbins followed with 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run while striking out two, and Tyler Helton closed the final 3.2 innings with two strikeouts.
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.
