The Ave Maria University baseball team split the final games of the 2016 season on Monday, defeating Florida Memorial 5-2 in a nine inning conference game, and losing 1-0 in the seven-inning nightcap. The Gyrenes finished 2016 with a record of 19-34.
GAME ONE RECAP:
The Gyrenes scored four decisive runs in the fifth inning, and finished Sun Conference play with a 5-2 victory over the Lions.
Despite being played at Florida Memorial, the Gyrenes were considered the home team for the first game.
Florida Memorial scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out double from Gianfranco Garlobo turned into the game's opening run on a sacrifice fly by Lance Mansfield.
Ave Maria answered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring a run of their own. Senior Conor Sullivan hit a triple into right field to lead off the inning. Ryan Keegan then tied the game on an RBI single.
The bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference for Ave, as the Gyrenes scored four runs to take a 5-1 advantage. After a strikeout to start the inning, Jack Yvars and RJ Warnock each drew a walk. With two outs after a flyout, Sullivan reached on a dropped pop-up, loading the bases. AMU took the lead on Keegan's second RBI of the game, which came when the first baseman was hit by a pitch. Andy Hernandez stretched the lead to three runs on a two-run single, and Christian Sanchez drove in the fourth run on another single.
The Lions ended the scoring in the top of the eighth inning, on a sacrifice fly by Alfredo Barroso that scored Emilio Marrufo. Justin Bureau worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his ninth save, the first pitcher in school history to do so.
Ave Maria was outhit 8-7 in the contest, with seven different Gyrenes recording one hit. Austin Comesanas pitched four innings in relief for the Gyrenes, and earned the victory. FMU starter Christian Benhart was charged with the loss.
GAME TWO RECAP:
A pitcher's duel went the way of the Lions in the season finale, as a lone run in the fourth inning stood up in a 1-0 Florida Memorial victory. The Gyrenes managed just one hit, a Christian Sanchez single in the fourth inning.
The game's only run was scored in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Emilio Marrufo walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lance Mansfield then recorded the biggest hit of the game, hitting a single into left field to score Marrufo and account for the 1-0 final.
Marrufo, Nestor Calixto and John Cunningham registered the three hits for the Lions in the win.
Both pitchers went the distance, with Florida Memorial's Scott Berman besting AMU's Tommy Craparo.
