HARDEEVILLE, S.C.- The Ave Maria University baseball team salvaged the final game of their conference series with the USCB Sand Sharks, claiming a rain-shortened 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. The game was called in the top of the sixth inning due to inclement weather that had lasted the majority of the day.

In each of the first two innings, the Gyrenes and Sand Sharks traded runs. The scoring started in the top of the first, as Daniel Caylor got the AMU offense started with a single and a stolen base. Alex Perez then put the Gyrenes on top with a double to right field that allowed Caylor to easily score from second. 

USCB's answer came quickly in the bottom of the first, as Hamilton led off the frame with a double and McKinney drove him in with a single to right field. The Sand Sharks loaded the bases in the first, but AMU starter Ben Krizen was able to induce a flyout from Terrell to avoid any further damage. 

Ave Maria retook the lead in the first three hitters of the top of the second. Brian Spradlin led off with a double to left field, and was moved over to third on a flyout off the bat of Jack Zander. Jared Halteman gave the lead back to AMU on a single to center. Halteman, who was the lone Gyrene with two hits on the day. would steal second base to get into scoring position, but was stranded there.

A run for USCB in the bottom half of the frame again tied the contest. For the second inning in a row, the action was started by a double, this time from Eastin. A sacrifice bunt from Mojica advanced Eastin to third, and a balk pushed the tying run across the plate. The Sand Sharks would again load the bases, but relief pitcher and eventual winner Kavin Kroll would get an inning-ending fielder's choice to keep the game 2-2.

The game's decisive runs came in the top of the third inning, where the Gyrenes hung the game's lone multi-run inning with two. Robby McMahon doubled to left field with one out, and Anier Ricardo found his way on base with a walk. The biggest hit of the day for the Gyrenes was then provided by Nick Wydler, whose double to right field gave Ave Maria a lead they would not relinquish at 4-2.

USCB attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth, but came up one run short in what would prove to be the final full inning of play. A one-out single from Mojica led to a run-scoring double from Hamilton, but Kroll would proceed to lock down the victory for the Gyrenes by forcing Wenthe to bounce into a double play with the tying run on second and the winning run on first.

The Gyrenes, who remain alive for the sixth seed in The Sun Conference Tournament, will play a midweek contest on Wednesday at Florida Memorial before finishing the conference schedule on Friday and Saturday against Thomas University. First pitch on Wednesday in Miami Gardens is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.