WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team fell to the tenth-ranked team in the nation on Wednesday, losing 11-1 to the Keiser University Seahawks in West Palm Beach. Keiser scored in four of their six appearances at the plate, while the Gyrenes scored their lone run in the third inning.

Keiser took control of the game early, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Marco Rivera, who cleared them with a three-run double. The next batter, Tivon Faneyte, drove in Rivera and himself with a two-run home run, and Ryan Gronlier concluded the Seahawk scoring with an RBI double down the left field line.

The Seahawks added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take an 8-0 lead after an inning and a half. The runs were plated on two more extra-base hits, both doubles, provided by Karsten Sherman and Faneyte. The doubles allowed Miguel Casanueva and Sherman to score for Keiser.

Ave Maria got on the board in the top of the third inning. Tully Allen singled to center field with one out, and moved to second base on a Matt Wiles walk. After a Ryan Keegan single loaded the bases, Rico Soto drew a walk on a 3-1 pitch to force Allen in for the only AMU run of the afternoon. Allen was the leading Gyrene hitter on the day, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base.

Two more runs crossed the plate for Keiser in the bottom of the fifth inning, widening the hosts' lead to 10-1. Crocitto drove in Justin Lara and Kyle Oliver, who were both on base thanks to walks, with a two-out, two-strike single. 

Keiser concluded their scoring in the top of the sixth with one run, which proved to be enough to enact the run rule after a scoreless seventh from the Gyrenes. A Gronlier sacrifice fly provided the run, driving in Sherman with two outs.

On the mound, Joe Soto and Michael Grenon were bright spots for the Gyrenes, as each pitcher worked a scoreless inning.

Ave Maria begins a series at home on Friday with Spring Arbor University from Michigan, a common opponent for the Gyrenes over the past few seasons. The three-game series begins with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch on Friday, and marks the first of seven games for AMU over a six-day period.