LAKE WALES, Fla. – Tonight Warner took the field against the NAIA (RV) Concordia University Cardinals and after 9 innings of back and forth baseball the Royals came away with a 7-5 victory.
 
With the win the Royals are now 27-9 and the Cardinals fall to 14-6.
 
The Royals have defeated 8 ranked teams this year and look to add to the list this week as they play the NAIA #17 Keiser Seahawks and the NAIA #1 Southeastern Fire.
 
Warner is 11-4 in their last 15 games and is currently on a 4 game win streak.
 
SID Player Of The Game
Xanders Vazquez: 3-4; 1 Run, 1 RBI, 2 SB
 
Joey Theune started on the mound tonight, pitched 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 2 ER and had 6 K's.
 
Theune battled adversity well all night, battling the elements and the errors behind him, maintaining his composure and continuously gave the Royals a chance to compete with his pitching.
 
Cameron Cooper came into the pitch the 7^th inning and was relieved by Jake Leiffer who came in and pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up 0 ER and striking out 3 on the way to his 3^rd win of the season, (3-0).
 
The Cardinals struck first scoring 1 run in the top of the 3^rd but the Royals answered scoring 4 of their in the bottom of the 4^th.
 
Rio Russell started the inning off with a stand up triple and tied the game on a Scott Fickas fielder's choice, Alex Vazquez followed with a 2 run HR(8) to left field and Ronny Penalo capped the inning off with another HR(2); Vazquez and Penalo had back-to-back homers to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
The Royals defense was shaky at best in the top of the 5^th, committing 3 errors on the same play allowing 3 runs to score and tie the game. The Cardinals added one more in the 5^th and took the lead 5-4.
 
Erich Jaquez got things started in the bottom of the 7^th with a leadoff single, advanced to second on the throw. Xanders Vazquez followed with a single over the 2^nd baseman to bring Jaquez home to tie the game 5-5 and eventually scored himself when he stole 3^rd base and was able to come home after a throwing error by the catcher.
 
The Royals lead 6-5 as they started the 8^th inning and added 1 more in the bottom of the 8^th when Rafael Astacio drew a 2 out walk and later scored on a 2 out hit by pinch hitter Deven Kirkland. Bringing the final tally to 7-5 in favor of the Royals.