Baseball | 1/31/2020 11:52:00 PM

Box Score COCHRAN, Ga.- The Ave Maria University baseball team knocked off the No. 22 team in the nation on Friday evening, claiming a 6-3 victory over the Knights of Middle Georgia State University. The Gyrenes broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, and never trailed in their victory over the Knights, who were one win away from a berth in the NAIA World Series last season.

Neither team would score in the first four innings of the contest, as both starting pitchers controlled the action. Eventual winning pitcher Callan Carn worked six innings for the Gyrenes, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts. Middle Georgia starter Witt Campbell, who would be tagged with the loss, was also spotless until the AMU offense got going in the fifth.

Ave Maria's five-run fifth inning started when the Gyrenes loaded the bases on two walks and a bunt single from Jakob MacLeod. A fielder's choice that saw all runners advance safely scored Edward Castillo, and two more runs crossed the plate on an error off the bat of Daniel Caylor. Clayton Stanley drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single, and the Gyrenes finished off the effort with an RBI groundout from Kolby Blanchard.

The Gyrenes then added another run in the top of the sixth to increase their lead to 6-0. MacLeod reached base with one out on an error, and moved to third base on a groundout from Wilfredo Acevedo. Caylor added the final run of the day for Ave Maria with a single to the shortstop with two outs in the inning. 

Middle Georgia scored in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not get any closer than three runs. Two runs crossed the plate in the sixth on an RBI single from Brandon Dougles and another from Michael Pittmon. The third run was accounted for by Kal Dempsey, who drove in Matt Holloway with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh.

From there, Ave Maria's pitchers shut down the nationally ranked Knights. Jared Halteman limited the damage in the seventh inning, and Jack Zander shut the door in the eighth and ninth innings to earn the save. Zander did not allow a hit in his two innings of work, and recorded four of his six outs by way of the strikeout. Carn, Halteman, and Zander combined for nine strikeouts in the win. 

Stanley led the way for Ave Maria, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Aidan Hickey reached base four times with two hits and two walks, while Caylor was the leading producer with two RBIs. The five hits for Middle Georgia were recorded by five different players.

Two more games between the Gyrenes and Knights are set for Saturday in Cochran, as Ave Maria goes for a series victory over their nationally ranked foes.