WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team hit three home runs on Friday afternoon, but fell victim to an offensive onslaught from Keiser University in a 13-3 decision at Silvester Field. The game was the opener of a Sun Conference series, and saw the Seahawks log 20 hits en route to the win.
The Gyrenes scored in each of the first two innings of the game, belting a pair of home runs. Luis Rodriguez belted the very first pitch of the game over the wall in left center field, giving AMU a 1-0 lead. Robby McMahon followed suit on the second pitch of the second inning, homering to left field for Ave's second run of the day.
Keiser's early scoring, though, was able to overwhelm the Gyrenes. The Seahawks scored three runs in the bottom of the first and five more in the second. An RBI single from Peter Crocitto and a two-run single from Nate VanKan provided the scoring in the first inning, while another single from Crocitto and home runs from Jonathan Fernandez and a three-run shot from Drew Reilly extended the Keiser lead to 8-2 after two innings.
AMU's final run of the day came in the top of the fourth inning on another home run from McMahon. The catcher's second home run of the day came on a 2-2 pitch with one out in the fourth, pulling AMU within 8-3.
The Seahawks concluded the game with three runs in the fourth and two in the seventh, which ended the game early due to the run rule. Hall blasted Keiser's third home run of the day in the fourth, a two-run shot, while Encarnacion drove in one run on a double down the left field line. Crocitto, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored, ended the game in the seventh with a two-run double.
Daniel Caylor provided the only other hit of the game for the Gyrenes, a single. Justin David took the loss for Ave Maria on the mound, while Chad Tworek was the winning pitcher for Keiser after a complete game performance with eight strikeouts.
Ave Maria and Keiser will continue play on Saturday, as the teams face off in a doubleheader at Silvester Field. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for noon. The Seahawks enter the games with a 7-3 record in conference play, while the Gyrenes will be looking to improve on a 3-7 mark.
