Kingsport, TN — The 8th ranked Webber International Baseball team delivered one of its strongest all-around performances of the season, using two explosive middle innings and a dominant start from Mason Veronezi to defeat LSU Alexandria 9-0 on Tuesday evening at Hunter Wright Stadium at the Kingsport Opening Round. The Warriors improved to 38-18 with the win, finishing with nine runs on 14 hits while holding the Generals to just two hits.
After two scoreless innings, Webber broke the game open in the top of the third. Nomar Vazquez worked a one-out walk before Jalen Martinez launched a two-run home run to left field to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead. Ty Mathews kept the inning moving with a triple to right center and later scored on an RBI single from Steven Nitch. Kaleb Henry entered as a pinch runner and came around to score when Will Gisriel doubled to center field, pushing Webber's advantage to 4-0.
The Warriors continued to pour it on in the fourth. Austen Jaslove opened the inning with a single to right field before Vazquez drew another walk to put two runners on base. Tugg Hollandsworth followed with the biggest swing of the night, sending a three-run home run to right field to extend the lead to 7-0. Mathews then singled through the left side and Nitch doubled to left center, setting up Gisriel for a two-run single that brought in Kaleb Henry and Mathews to make it 9-0.
That was more than enough support for Veronezi, who controlled the game from start to finish. The right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out 13 over nine innings. Veronezi faced only 30 batters, threw 111 pitches with 70 strikes, and kept LSU Alexandria from recording an extra-base hit. The Generals managed just three runners left on base as Webber's defense played error-free behind him.
Offensively, Webber was led by Mathews, who finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a double and a triple. Hollandsworth went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored, while Nitch added three hits, a double and an RBI. Gisriel drove in three runs on a 2-for-5 performance, and Martinez added the two-run home run that started the scoring in the third inning.
Webber finished the night with three doubles, one triple and two home runs while collecting five two-out RBI. The Warriors did all of their scoring in the third and fourth innings, then relied on Veronezi to shut the door the rest of the way in a commanding 9-0 victory.
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