West Palm Beach, FL -- The Ave Maria University baseball team fell victim to a seven-run fourth inning from the Keiser University Seahawks, which proved to be the difference in a 9-3 decision on Friday afternoon in West Palm Beach. The contest was the opening game of three in a Sun Conference series.
 
Ave Maria took an early lead on Friday, plating a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Three walks, drawn by Matt Wiles, Rico Soto, and Ryan Keegan, loaded the bases for AMU with two outs in the frame.
Andy Hernandez struck first for the Gyrenes with an RBI single, and a fielding error allowed Soto to score as well to give the Gyrenes a 2-0 lead.
 
The lead stretched to 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Brody Howe and Tully Allen each singled to start the inning, putting runners on first and third. After a groundout, Justin Hartshorne drove in Howe with a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
However, the Seahawks would take control with the seven-run fourth inning. The main damage in the inning was done on a two-run single from Tom Prospero, and an error off the bat of Tivon Faneyte that allowed two more to score. Dylan Dore, Brad Myott, and Jack Curtis also added RBIs in the fourth for the hosts.
 
Keiser also added runs in the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings to supply the final outcome. Keivan Berges drove in the fifth inning run with an RBI single, and an RBI double from Faneyte finished the scoring in the last of the seventh.
 
Howe was Ave Maria's offensive leader in the losing effort, going
3-for-4 with a run scored. Keegan and Allen each added two hits. AMU's top pitcher was Jesse Crosno, who struck out two Keiser hitters in a scoreless eighth inning. Austin Munn took the loss, while Kyle Keatts was the winning pitcher for the Seahawks.
 
The series concludes Saturday afternoon, as the Gyrenes and the Seahawks will do battle in doubleheader action.