BARTOW, Fla. --- The Ave Maria baseball team dropped both games of a midweek, non-conference doubleheader against the fourth-ranked Southeastern Fire. Southeastern won the first game 8-3 and game two 4-3.
 
Southeastern got on the board early in game one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Fire added three more in the third on a three-run homerun by Dan Valerio.
 
In the top of the fourth, a RBI single by Rico Soto to bring in Tully Allen put the Gyrenes on the board. Nick Wydler then reached on an error that allowed Chris Wydler, who pinch ran for Soto, to come around and score to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
Southeastern added two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth. A Gyrenes run on a wild pitch that plated Matt Wiles in the top of the sixth made it a four run game, 7-3. Southeastern would add on a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3.
 
Soto was 2-for-3 in game one with one RBI to lead AMU.
 
Christian Whitlach took the loss in game one, allowing five runs on six hits.
 
In game two, Ryan Keegan put the Gyrenes in front in the top half of the first with a RBI single through the left side to plate Allen. Southeastern tied the game with a solo homerun in the bottom half of the inning before scoring three in the second to take a 4-1 lead.
 
AMU got two runs back in the third inning on a double-steal that allowed Allen to come home. Later in the inning, Wiles scored on a wild pitch to bring AMU within one.
 
Five pitchers threw in game two for Ave Maria. Joshua Harrell took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits.
 
Five different players recorded a hit for AMU in game two. Allen went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
Sergio Miyares pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in game one and another inning of scoreless ball in game two. He allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out two in his 2.2 innings of work in relief.
 
Ave Maria faces another TSC-foe Wednesday evening when they travel to Babson Park to take on Webber at 6 p.m. This weekend, Ave Maria opens their home schedule with a series against Warner beginning with a single game on Friday at 2 p.m.