The Ave Maria baseball team came up just short against Spring Arbor University on Friday afternoon, narrowly dropping a 4-3 decision in the season opener for the Cougars. The game was the first of a three-game set at Bowie's Ballpark in Ave Maria.
 
The Cougars scored all the runs they would need in the second inning, placing a four-spot on Gyrene starter Christian Dufresne. Three of the four Spring Arbor runs came with two outs, all on RBI singles. Nick Harris, Adam Rojas, Jack Driscoll, and Mitchel Patterson all drove in runs during the frame.
 
After the second inning, Dufresne settled in, and did not allow a run in his final 4.2 innings on the mound. Despite finishing the game strong, Dufresne fell to 1-4 on the season. His counterpart, Spencer Goebel got the win over five innings on the mound.
 
Ave Maria was able to strike back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs without the aid of a hit. With one out, Nick Wydler and Matt Wiles drew walks, and Wydler advanced to third on a flyout. Conor Sullivan then struck out for what would have been the third out, but an errant throw to third allowed Wydler to score and the inning to continue. Wiles then scored on a wild pitch, and an error off the bat of Rico Soto plated pinch-runner Tom Filus to pull the Gyrenes within one run.
 
AMU threatened again in the seventh inning after RJ Warnock reached on an error. With two outs, Soto drilled a single to center field, and Warnock was barely thrown out at home plate to preserve Spring Arbor's one run lead. The Gyrenes had runners in scoring position in six of nine innings, but could not get the runners to the plate.
 
The Gyrene offense was led by Andy Hernandez, who reached base in all four of his plate appearances, including drawing three walks. Ryan Keegan and Jack Yvars added Ave Maria's other two hits.
 
After the exit of Dufresne, reliever Sergio Miyares was spectacular.
Miyares worked 2.1 perfect innings, including strikeouts of the first three hitters he faced.
 
The Gyrenes were unable to score in the eighth and ninth innings, as Duncan Patterson retired the final four Gyrenes to earn a save.
 
The series between AMU and Spring Arbor continues Saturday morning with a doubleheader at Bowie's Ballpark. The first pitch of the twinbill is set for 11 a.m. in Ave Maria.