Miami Gardens, FL -- The Ave Maria University baseball team dropped a tight midweek contest to the St. Thomas University Bobcats on Wednesday night, narrowly dropping a 4-2 decision on the road. Despite facing a conference opponent, the game does not count in the Sun Conference Standings.
 
Ave Maria's offensive output came in the top of the first inning, as the Gyrenes jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. Tully Allen led off the game with a single, and scored on a double by Ryan Cook. After advancing to third base, Cook crossed the plate on a Rico Soto sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Gyrenes a two-run lead just three hitters into the game.
 
The Bobcats answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Michael Centeno was hit by a pitch, and proceeded to steal second and third with one out. He scored when Diaz singled to left field, bringing the hosts back within 2-1.
 
That 2-1 lead held until the bottom of the fourth. The Bobcats had runners on first and third after a leadoff double and a one-out single. With two outs in the frame, an error from Ave allowed Oliva to score from third. AMU starter Sergio Miyares exited after the fourth inning, having surrendered just one earned run.
 
St. Thomas took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, again scoring on something other than a batted ball. Rivera hit a leadoff single, and moved to second on a balk. An infield single moved him to third, and a pickoff of the runner on first sent him across the plate.
 
An insurance run was tacked on by the Bobcats in the bottom of eighth.
A two-out error did the damage, as Morales was plated on an error off the bat of Gutierrez. The two run lead held, providing the final margin in the midweek contest.
 
Mason Dinesen was Ave Maria's leading hitter, logging a pair of hits in the losing effort.
 
The Gyrenes are right back in action on Thursday afternoon, welcoming Purdue University Northwest to Bowie's Ballpark. Conference play resumes on Friday with a three-game series against Florida Memorial University.