BABSON PARK, Fla. – The No. 3 Embry-Riddle baseball team lost a pair of heartbreaking decisions to open up the 2014 season on Saturday in Babson Park, Fla. The Eagles fell to Webber International, 4-3, on a walk-off single in the 11th inning, before losing a 10-inning game to No. 24 William Carey, 9-7.
 
The results move the Eagles to 0-2 on the season, while the Warriors improved to 1-2 and WCU went to 1-0. This marks the first time Embry-Riddle has opened a season with two straight losses since the 2006 campaign.
 
Game 1 – WIU 4, ERAU 3 (11 innings)
 
The Blue and Gold broke through first against Webber International, plating a run on a Jordan Johnson bases-loaded walk in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The lead increased to 2-0 in the fourth when Colt Hankamer scored from third on a balk called against Warrior starting pitcher Chris Garcia.
 
Stetson Nelson held WIU scoreless through the first six frames, preserving the 2-0 lead.
 
Webber International's Austin Aubuchon reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Lorenzo Boden to open the seventh inning, which led to Nelson being replaced by David Lidyard on the mound. After a groundout advanced Aubuchon to third, Chris Suto drove him in with another groundout to trim the lead to 2-1.
 
Embry-Riddle got that run back in the next half-inning when Kyle Buchanan knocked in Jordan Johnson with a 2-out single to extend the lead to 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Ramon Sanchez brought the Warriors back to within a run with a double that scored Cody Warren, making it a 3-2 ballgame headed to the ninth.
 
After the Eagles stranded a pair of runners in the top of the ninth, Webber put together a two-out rally in the bottom half. Suto singled with two down and Dylan Price followed with a walk. Ronnie Lozada came in and gave up a base hit to Lane Crosson, scoring Suto to tie the game at three.
 
Embry-Riddle couldn't get anything going in the 10th or 11th innings, going down 1-2-3 in both frames.
 
WIU walked off with a 4-3 win in the bottom of the 11th on a two-out single by Warren, scoring Suto with the game-winning run.
 
Lozada took the loss to move to 0-1 on the season, throwing two innings, allowing one run on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Nelson threw a solid six innings to open the game, giving up just one unearned run on six hits while striking out six and walking none.
 
Liam Goodall finished 2-for-6 with a run scored and a stolen base, while Jordan Johnson was 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI.
 
Nick Olson got the win in relief for Webber, moving to 1-0 with two perfect innings and two strikeouts. Garcia threw the first four innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and six walks with two strikeouts.
 
Crosson went 2-for-5 with a walk and an RBI while Warren was 2-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Game 2 – WCU 9, ERAU 7 (10 innings)
 
As they did in game one, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead, this time scoring three runs as they batted around in the second inning. Hunter Bruehl and Lorenzo Boden laced back-to-back singles with one out to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Liam Goodall tripled to the fence in left-center, scoring both runners. Two pitches later, Goodall came home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 game. The next three batters all drew walks, but Kyle Chastain grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
 
The Crusaders got on the board in the fourth inning on a run-scoring single from Ramon Cedeno, cutting the lead to 3-1.
 
William Carey plated three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to take a 7-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Embry-Riddle found a little magic in the person of Darryl Knight. Goodall punched a one-out single through the right side and Colt Hankamer followed with a walk. Kevin Lindheim drove a single into center field to load the bases. Knight stepped up and launched a grand slam over the left-center field fence to tie the game at 7-7.
 
ERAU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, advancing runners to second and third with two outs, but Hankamer's sharp ground ball ricocheted off the pitcher's glove and was fielded by the shortstop who made the play to first to end the inning.
 
The Crusaders got a clutch two-out, two-run double off the bat of Cade Leblanc to take a 9-7 lead, which would prove to be the final score.
 
Bruce Wong (0-1) took the loss, pitching two innings of relief, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks. Daniel Poncedeleon threw 5.2 innings in his first start as an Eagle, giving up one run on four hits, walking one and striking out seven.
 
Goodall went 3-for-5 with a triple, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs. Lindheim was 3-for-5 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Bruehl finished 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, and Knight was 1-for-5 with a walk, a home run and four RBIs.
 
Brandt Bourgeois (1-0) picked up the win, hurling two scoreless innings of relief, giving up three hits and a walk with one strikeout. Vito Perna struggled to start the game, going just 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
 
Scott Fabre went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double, a run scored and two RBIs, while Leblanc went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
 
The Eagles return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when they host Brewton-Parker in a doubleheader at Sliwa Stadium. First pitch for the first game is slated for 3 p.m.