The Ave Maria University baseball team scored early, but could not muster any late offense in an 8-2 defeat at the hands of No. 19 Keiser University. The Gyrenes were held scoreless in the final eight innings of the contest after a two-run first.
 
Offense dominated the opening frame, as each team posted a two-spot in the first. Keiser started the scoring on back-to-back singles from Brad Myott and Carlos Lopez to plate Andrew Danner and courtesy runner Tyler Hitt. After Lopez was caught stealing to end the inning, the Gyrenes began their half with a single from Jack Yvars. After a groundout and a strikeout, Conor Sullivan then reached on a single.
Both Yvars and runner Chris Lentine scored on a double from Ryan Keegan, who led the Gyrenes with two hits on the day.
 
Through the seventh inning, pitching took control of the game.
Starters Austin Munn and Steven Bruce kept opposing hitters off balance, with just a fourth inning single from Keiser's Jesus Fuenmayor supplying a run. Munn worked out of trouble consistently, inducing three double plays. The second double play saw Keegan make a tremendous diving catch and throw to second to double off a runner in the fifth.  Bruce worked eight innings and moved to 6-0, while Munn dropped to 2-4 despite 7.1 strong innings.
 
Ave Maria's best scoring chance came in the fifth inning, when Matt Wiles and RJ Warnock both reached scoring position, but could not cross the plate.
 
Keiser broke through in the eighth inning, putting two runs on the board. Keivan Berges launched his eleventh homer of the season to right field to give the Seahawks a 4-2 lead. After the next three hitters reached, Tyler Hitt scored on a wild pitch to make the Keiser lead three runs.
 
The game was put away in the top of the ninth on Berges' 12th home run, a three-run shot that plated Danner and Dylan Dore. Berges finished the game with 4 RBIs on his two home runs. Danner added a
4-for-5 day.
 
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader from Bowie's Ballpark, with the opening game's first pitch set for 11 a.m.
Tomorrow's first game is Ave Maria's Wounded Warrior Game. The Gyrenes welcome all to come out and support those who have been injured during or suffered the effects of war as they served in our nation's military.