WINTER PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team nearly rallied from an 8-1 deficit, but fell just short in a midweek contest at Rollins College on Wednesday, losing 10-9 to the Tars. 

Rollins scored eight runs in the first two innings to jump out to an early lead on the Gyrenes. Bryce Peterson drove in two runs with a single in the first inning, and Nick Breen and Grant Ashline drove in two runs each in the second inning with a single and a double, respectively.

The lone Gyrene run in the opening two innings came in the second. Two singles from Brody Howe and Steven Valentine and a walk to Matt Wiles loaded the bases with two outs. Tully Allen got the Gyrenes on the board with a single to score Howe from third base.

Ave Maria closed the Rollins lead down to two runs in the third and fourth innings, scoring five unanswered runs on the Tars. In the third inning, Rico Soto hit a one-out double, and scored after a groundout and an error committed by the Tars. Valentine, who reached on the error, was plated following back-to-back singles from Luis Dominguez and Nick Wydler. In the fourth, a single and two walks loaded the bases with no outs, and Soto pulled the Gyrenes within two with a bases-clearing double.

The Tars increased their lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with an unearned run. Peterson led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to third base on an errant pickoff throw. The centerfielder then scored on a two-out single from Eddie Ayala, giving Rollins a 9-6 lead.

A run that would prove to be critical for Rollins scored in the bottom of the seventh inning. The run scored without the aid of a hit, as two errors and a wild pitch allowed Brendan Brundage to cross the plate for the Tars. 

AMU's eighth inning rally saw the Gyrenes score three runs and put the tying run in scoring position. The Gyrenes loaded the bases on walks to Allen and Wiles, as well as a hit by pitch dealt to Alex Perez. After a strikeout, Soto capped a five-RBI performance with a two-run single. Howe followed with an RBI single to cut Rollins' lead to 10-9, which proved to be the final run of the contest. Soto and Howe combined for six hits and six runs batted in in the losing effort.

Eduardo Rodriguez posted the best outing of his collegiate career on the mound, allowing just three hits and no earned runs over five innings. Andrew Giddens also tossed a scoreless inning for the Gyrenes.

The Gyrenes re-enter Sun Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against No. 13 Keiser University. The home series begins with a single game on Friday, which is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch at Bowie's Ballpark in Ave Maria.