BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team dropped both halves of a doubleheader in Sun Conference play on Saturday, losing 9-2 and 5-3 to the Webber International University Warriors at Heart of Florida Field.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Gyrenes jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but surrendered nine unanswered runs in a 9-2 loss to the Warriors. The Gyrenes recorded 12 hits in the losing effort.

Ave Maria's 2-0 start was provided by Rico Soto. The senior catcher hit two home runs in the second and fourth innings, leading off both innings with a bang. The homers were Soto's first two of the season, and gave the senior 16 for his career, bringing him four shy of Hunter McCarthy's school record.

Webber responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, taking the lead for good. The runs were driven in by Michel Dagenais, on a two-run single, and on a three-run home run from Jesse Coleman. 

The Warriors pulled away from the Gyrenes with two runs each in the sixth and eighth innings. Webber got RBI singles from Garett Martin and Chris Medina to provide the scoring in the sixth, and a pair of fielder's choices did the damage in the eighth. 

AMU plated a third run in the top of the ninth inning to conclude the scoring. Nick Wydler hit a leadoff double, and moved to third base on a Steven Valentine groundout. Brian Spradlin drove in Wydler with a groundout to the third baseman. Wydler led Ave Maria with three hits in the losing effort.

A walk-off home run in the bottom of the 13th gave the Warriors the sweep with a 5-3 victory over the Gyrenes. Ave Maria led in the eighth inning, but surrendered three unanswered runs to lose their third straight game.

A sacrifice fly got the Warriors on the board in the bottom of the second. Two singles and a sacrifice bunt gave Webber runners on second and third with one out. Cristian Rivera then drove in Brett Kaminski with a fly ball to right field, giving Webber a 1-0 lead.

Webber's 1-0 lead lasted until the top of the sixth inning, when the Gyrenes evened the game at one. Alex Perez drove in Luis Dominguez with a pinch-hit single, allowing AMU to even the game on their third hit of the inning.

The Warriors retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. A dropped third strike put Kaminski on first base to lead off the inning, and he proceeded to steal second base. With two outs, Rivera drove Kaminski in with a single, giving Webber a 2-1 lead with two innings to play.

Ave Maria scored twice in the top of the eighth to take their first lead of the game. Soto drew a one-out walk, stole second base, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Steven Valentine singled in Soto, and scored himself on an RBI single from Robby McMahon. Dagenais then tied the game for the Warriors in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single.

After four scoreless innings, Webber claimed victory in the bottom of the 13th inning on a two-run home run from Medina.

Andrew Steele pitched the first nine innings for the Gyrenes, striking out nine hitters without a walk. Valentine's three hits led Ave Maria at the plate. 

The Gyrenes remain on the road on Wednesday with a single game against Keiser University. First pitch in West Palm Beach is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.