The Ave Maria University baseball team suffered two losses to Southeastern University on Saturday in Lakeland, dropping all three games of the Sun Conference series. The Fire won the opener 11-3, and claimed the nightcap 8-4.
 
GAME ONE RECAP:
The Gyrenes never led in the opening game of the doubleheader, falling behind early in a 11-3 defeat to the Fire, which clinched the series victory for Southeastern.
 
Southeastern scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take their early lead. An RBI single from Danny Acevedo, a two-run double from Zach Hessinger, and an RBI groundout off the bat of Angel Garced put the Fire ahead 4-0.
 
Ave Maria got a run back in the top of the third inning, doing so on just one hit. Matt Wiles drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to third on a Jack Yvars single. A walk to RJ Warnock loaded the bases, and Wiles would then score on a wild pitch to Rico Soto. Despite having runners on second and third with no outs, the Southeastern lead stayed at 4-1.
 
A three-run fourth inning allowed the Fire to distance themselves from the Gyrenes. The opening three hitters reached to load the bases, and the first, Marcus Guzman, scored on a fielder's choice from Chris Mattison. The other two runs scored on consecutive singles by Derek Martin and Luis Diaz.
 
The lead was extended to 8-1 in the fifth, as Hessinger drove in Guzman on a two-out single. Hessinger led the Southeastern offense, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Acevedo and Josiel Colon also recorded three hits each.
 
The Gyrenes trimmed the lead back to five runs in the top of the sixth. Andy Hernandez did the damage with his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot that also plated Ryan Keegan. Hernandez's homer made him just the fourth player in Gyrene history to hit five home runs in a season.
 
Southeastern answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame.
Acevedo drove the run in with a single that allowed Martin to score.
 
Two runs in the bottom of the eighth completed the scoring. Diaz scored on an error, and a sacrifice fly from Guzman brought in Colon to supply the 11-3 final score.
 
Nate Harmon worked six innings for the Fire, and earned the victory.
Andrew Steele was charged with the loss for the Gyrenes.
 
GAME TWO RECAP:
In a game divided by a lengthy weather delay, the Fire claimed the series sweep with an 8-4 victory, buoyed by scoring the decisive margin in the first inning.
 
The Fire took the lead in the opening inning of the contest, hanging a four-spot up in the first. Doubles from Zach Hessinger and Chris Mattison drove in the first run, which was followed by an RBI single from Derek Martin. Luis Diaz then put Southeastern up 4-0 with a two run home run.
 
AMU responded in the top of the third by cutting the lead in half with two runs. With one out, Matt Wiles was hit by an 0-2 pitch. Two pitches later, Jack Yvars deposited an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for his first home run of the season.
 
Ave scored another run in the top of the fourth to move within a run of the Fire. After two groundouts started the inning, Andy Hernandez hit a double to left center field. On the very next pitch, Steven Valentine singled to center to plate Hernandez.
 
The Gyrenes tied the game during their next at-bat, putting a run on the board in the top of the fifth. Matt Wiles drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to third on a Jack Yvars single. After Wiles was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice, Rico Soto evened the score with an RBI single.
 
Southeastern retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI double from Martin and a throwing error put the fire back in front by a 6-4 score.
 
After a delay of nearly four hours due to inclement weather, the game picked up in the top of the sixth. The game remained 6-4 until the bottom of the seventh, when the Fire scored twice on a Martin double and a wild pitch to finish the day's scoring.
 
Ave Maria will look to bounce back on Wednesday, as the Gyrenes battle Florida Memorial in a midweek doubleheader in Miami Gardens. The Gyrenes then return home for a weekend series with Keiser, beginning with a game Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Ave Maria.