BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team fell short in the opening game of a conference series on Friday night, losing 8-2 to No. 25 Webber International University at Heart of Florida Field in Babson Park. Webber scored in four consecutive innings to earn the victory in the first of three games between the teams.

After two innings of scoreless play, the Warriors struck for three runs in the bottom of the third. Webber loaded the bases with one out on a double and a pair of walks. Manny Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs with a double of his own, and Chris Medina added the third Warrior run on a single to left field. 

The Warriors scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jesse Coleman hit a one-out double, and was driven in on a double from Quirino Esquivel. The second run of the frame came home on an RBI single from Napo Ballestero with two outs.

Ave Maria got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth inning. A single from Rico Soto with one out and an errant pickoff play allowed courtesy runner Chris Wydler to advance to third base. With two outs, Brody Howe reached on an error from the WIU first baseman, which allowed Wydler to score the opening Gyrene run.

Webber International got the run back in the bottom half, pushing their lead to 6-1. Medina clubbed a one-out double, and came around to scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch committed by AMU.

AMU completed their half of the scoring in the top of the sixth inning. Alex Perez singled to begin the inning, and stole second with one out in the inning. Perez scored from second base after Ryan Keegan reached on an error by Webber's first baseman.

Webber's final two runs were driven in by Medina on a single with one out in the sixth inning. Medina led Webber in the victory with four hits and three runs batted in. Webber starter Zak Spivy went the distance for the Warriors, striking out 15 and walking just one.

Brody Howe was Ave Maria's offensive leader with three hits. Daniel Davis and Tommy Craparo were bright spots on the mound for the Gyrenes, working a combined 2.2 scoreless innings on the mound.

The series between the Gyrenes and the Warriors continues with a doubleheader on Saturday. The opening game of the twinbill is scheduled for noon, with the series finale scheduled for 3 p.m.