KINGSPORT, TN. - Indiana Wesleyan baseball is set to face Webber International University (Fla.) in the 2023 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. The Wildcats are making their second appearance in the tournament in three years. In the double-elimination bracket, IWU is the No. 4-seed with their first matchup will against the No. 1-seed Webber International on Monday, May 15th at 3:00 p.m. The other two teams in the bracket are No. 2 seed-Missouri Baptist and No. 3-seed Bryan College (Tenn.).
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WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY |
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SCOUTING WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
- The Warriors enter the Opening Round as the No. 1-seed in the Kingsport Bracket with a 40-15 record and 12-9 in the SUN conference and as the No. 9 team in the NAIA.
- Webber International finished second in the Sun Conference Tournament to earn an automatic bid.
- The Warriors are making their second straight appearance in the tournament, having reached the NAIA World Series in 2022.
KEY WARRIORS
- Angel Diaz (SR | 1B)
- Diaz led the team in batting average (.389), OPS (1.060), hits (77), home runs (8), RBI's (65), slugging percentage (.611) and stolen bases (24).
- He was named First Team All-SUN.
- Blayne Huter (SO | RHP)
- Huter made 18 appearances and 14 starts on the mound for the Warriors, finishing with a record of 8-4.
- He tied for the most strikeouts on the team with 85 and posted an ERA of 3.96.
- He earned First Team All-SUN honors.
- Dylan Martin (SO | LHP)
- Martin had a team-low ERA of 2.98 and a 10-1 record in 16 starts.
- Martin led the team in innings pitched with 87.2 and tied for the most strikeouts on the team with 85.
- He was named to the All-SUN First Team.
NAIA RANKINGS
- Webber International is ranked 17th in the NAIA with a team ERA of 4.21.
- The Warriors 457 strikeouts ranks 11th in the NAIA.
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MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY |
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SCOUTING MISSOURI BAPTIST
- The Spartans are the No. 2-seed in the Kingsport Bracket with a 42-7 record 19-2 in the AMC and as the 11th ranked team in the NAIA.
- Missouri Baptist won the AMC regular season title to earn an automatic bid.
- The Spartans are led by Eddie Uschold who was named the AMC Coach of the Year. Uschold is in his 24th season at the helm for Missouri Baptist, taking the Spartans to the Opening Round 16 times in his tenure.
KEY SPARTANS
- Anthony Green (JR | P)
- Green has an 11-0 record on the season with 108 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched. His strikeout total is sixth in the NAIA
- He was named the AMC Pitcher of the Year, winning Pitcher of the Week three times during the season, and being named AMC Newcomer Pitcher of the Year and All-AMC First Team.
- Blane Besse (SR | OF)
- Besse hit .429 on the season with a .534 on base percentage, and his 14 home runs led the team.
- He totaled 50 RBIs, good for second most on the team.
- Besse was named AMC Player of the Year.
- Alex Adams (SR | INF)
- Adams had a .387 batting average to go with 10 doubles and 52 RBIs.
- He was named to the All-AMC First Team.
NAIA RANKINGS
- Missouri Baptist is ranked 11th in the NAIA with a team batting average of .347 and 10th in on base percentage with a .447.
- Their 4.32 team ERA ranks 20th in the NAIA.
SCOUTING BRYAN COLLEGE
- The Lions come into the Opening Round as the No. 3-seed in the Kingsport Bracket with a 35-18 record and 20-8 in AAC conference play, they also finished as the No. 20 team in the NAIA.
- Bryan finished second in the AAC Tournament to secure an automatic bid.
- The Lions advanced to the tournament for the 6th time in 7 years.
KEY LIONS
- Bryson Lofton (JR | RHP)
- Lofton ranks 77th in the NAIA for hits, with 89. He also ranks 16th in the NAIA for batting average coming in with a .434 overall.
- Lofton is responsible for 20 home runs, 89 hits, 70 RBIs, 53 runs, and 6 stolen bases.
- He was named First Team All-AAC.
- Parker Cosby (JR | C/3B)
- Cosby has a .357 batting average and totaled 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, 52 runs, and 14 stolen bases.
- He was 4th in the NAIA, drawing 49 walks.
- Cosby earned Second Team All-AAC honors.
- Danny Marquez (SR | OF)
- Dryden posted a .284 batting average, 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, 51 runs, and 9 stolen bases
- Dryden was named to the All-AAC Second Team.
NAIA RANKINGS
- Bryan is ranked 5th in the NAIA with 114 home runs this season.
- Their 550 hits ranks 21st in the nation.
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