The Ave Maria University baseball team used an early surge to win their third consecutive game, claiming a 6-4 decision over Indiana University-South Bend on Friday afternoon at Bowie's Ballpark in Ave Maria. The win was also the fifth in AMU's last six games.
 
Ave Maria never trailed on Friday, taking an early lead in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Matt Wiles reached on a fielding error to start the frame, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from RJ Warnock.
After a walk to Conor Sullivan, Rico Soto got the Gyrenes on the board with an RBI single to left field, his 16th RBI of the season. The scoring continued with another single to left field, this one scoring two runs off the bat of Ryan Keegan.
 
AMU continued the offensive assault in the second inning. With Steve Valentine and Wiles aboard, Warnock laid down a perfect bunt single, which was then airmailed into right field, allowing Valentine to score. The lead stretched to 6-0 on a two-run double for Sullivan. The redshirt senior was one of two Gyrenes to reach base three times in the win- Matt Wiles being the other.
 
The lead was cut in the half in the top of the third on a passed ball and a two-run single from Chris Mangus. Kevin Phelps, Spencer McCool, and Jalon Linville scored the runs for IU-South Bend.
 
After allowing the three-spot in the third, Ave Maria starter Christian Dufresne settled in for a solid outing. Dufresne picked up his second win of the season over seven innings of work. The Rockledge native struck out seven Titan hitters en route to the victory.
 
IU-South Bend would add a run in the seventh on an RBI single from McCool, who reached base three times. Phelps led the Titans, going
3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
 
The Gyrene bullpen finished the job for Dufresne, as Andrew Giddens and Justin Bureau worked the eighth and ninth innings without surrendering a run. The scoreless ninth gave Bureau his fifth save of the season.
 
After winning the opening game of the series, the Gyrenes return to Bowie's Ballpark Saturday for a doubleheader with IU-South Bend. The opening game of the twinbill will begin at 11 a.m. in Ave Maria. The series with the Titans is part of a six game in four day stretch for the Gyrenes, which continues Sunday and Monday with a three game series against Indiana Tech.