The Ave Maria University baseball team exploded offensively Wednesday afternoon, scoring 14 runs in the game's first two innings en route to an 18-2 victory over Florida Memorial University at Bowie's Ballpark in Ave Maria. The 18 runs were the most ever scored by a Gyrene team at home, and the third most in school history. The 16-run win was also the second biggest margin of victory in Ave Maria history.
The run-scoring started almost immediately on a double from Rico Soto in the first inning, driving in Matt Wiles. Soto's double began a streak of six straight Gyrenes that would reach and score in the opening inning. Andy Hernandez put the Gyrenes up 4-0 with a three-run homer to left field, his fourth of the season. Singles by Jack Yvars and Sean Trymbiski, as well as a hit by pitch from Max Nell loaded the bases, and a two-run single from Wiles and a wild pitch gave AMU a 7-0 lead.
After a double from Tony Gonzalez-Funes cut the Gyrene lead to 7-1, Ave Maria added seven more in the second. Yvars, and Trymbiski recorded consecutive RBIs on a single and a fielder's choice. After Nell singled, three runners scored after a Valentine single skipped to the fence, allowing Valentine and two baserunners to score. Rico Soto competed the scoring in the second with a two-run homer to put Ave Maria up 14-1.
The 14-1 score held until the fourth inning, when Nell and Valentine scored on a wild pitch and an error. Ave Maria finished their scoring in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs in the inning, Joe Rivera clubbed a double that brought home Nell, who scored four times for AMU. Rivera scored on a single from Chris Lentine for the 18th Ave Maria run. Florida Memorial scored a run in the seventh to account for the final score.
Pitchers Bruno DeZayas, Matt Webber, and Seamus McDonagh combined to limit the Lion offense to two runs. DeZayas earned the victory, while FMU starter Alexander Velez took the loss in a third of an inning on the mound.
The Gyrenes begin a stretch of six games in four days on Friday, starting with a game with Indiana-South Bend at 2:30 pm at Bowie's Ballpark. The series continues with a Saturday doubleheader, followed by a three-game set Sunday and Monday with Indiana Tech.
