Boxscore
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The fifth-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles saw multiple streaks snapped on a rainy Friday night at Sliwa Stadium against the Webber International Warriors. With a 7-2 victory, WIU ended Embry-Riddle's eight-game winning streak, as well as ending an 18-game losing streak to the Eagles, dating back to March of 2006. It was the first conference loss for the Blue and Gold in 2012, and their first home conference defeat since the 2010 season. ERAU drops to 9-3 and 6-1, while Webber International improves to 4-5 and 1-0.
The Warriors would load the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, but they only managed to plate one run against Eagle starter
Adam Paulencu. Billy Farrell singled through the right side to score Derek Self from third, giving WIU an early 1-0 lead. The Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada native was able to halt the damage at one run, getting the next two batters to foul out and line out to end the threat.
WIU sent Rob Lane to the mound in search of his first win of the year, and the sophomore right-hander delivered, keeping the potent Eagle offense from scoring, other than a two-run third inning. After the Warriors tacked on three runs in their half of the third, bringing the score to 4-0, Embry-Riddle was able to chip away with two runs in the home-half, both coming on a
Chris Page single and a throwing error by WIU center fielder Farrell.
Paulencu was unable to produce a shutdown inning, as the Warriors got back the two runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 6-2, and ending the night for Paulencu.
Daniel Eaton entered for ERAU in the fifth, and the junior was able to keep Webber from growing their advantage, tossing four strong innings of relief before giving way to Antwan Brown and
Eric Green in the ninth.
But the story of the evening was Lane, as the Eagles managed just four hits against him while striking out six times. Robbie Payton threw the final 1.1 after a 40-minute rain delay in the eighth inning, surrendering just one hit and a walk. Lane improved to 1-3 with the win, and Paulencu dropped to 1-1 with the defeat.
Ben Kline, Page,
JT Warmoth and
Greg Smith were the Eagles to record hits, with Page picking up his nation-leading 19th RBI. Catcher
Adam Cellini saw his 26-game reached base safely streak come to an end in the loss.
WIU's Head Coach Brad Niethammer earned his 500th career victory with the win, his first against Eagle Head Coach
Randy Stegall.
The two teams will be back at it again, tomorrow, Feb. 18 in a twinbill starting at 1 p.m. at Sliwa Stadium.
