COCHRAN, Ga.- The Ave Maria University baseball team fell short in their quest to claim a series victory over the Knights of Middle Georgia State University, dropping both halves of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Middle Georgia earned victories of 2-1 and 11-2 to claim a 2-1 series victory over the visiting Gyrenes.
In the opening game, the Gyrenes grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Mark Rooney started off the inning with a single, and stood on third base with two outs. A single from Daniel Caylor drove Rooney home for what proved to be AMU's only run of the opening game.
Middle Georgia got the run back in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at one. Kal Dempsey singled with one out in the frame, and moved ahead to third on an AMU error. After a walk to William Giles, an error off the bat of Joel Ellis allowed pinch runer Michael Garner to score from third for the game-tying run.
With the score still tied at one, Middle Georgia earned a walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Coverdill started the inning with a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jonnie Benniefield. After Matt Holloway was hit by a pitch, a single from Justin Brooks drove in the game-winning run for the Knights.
Despite taking the loss, Trey Felker pitched well in his Ave debut, striking out seven hitters over 6.1 innings of work. Felker allowed just three hits to the No. 22 team in the nation, recording a quality start. Ave Maria's three hits in the losing effort were provided by Rooney, Caylor, and Edward Castillo.
Game two saw Middle Georgia jump out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. A two-run double from Kal Dempsey accounted for the first two runs, and an RBI groundout from Jonnie Benniefeld was responsible for the third. Middle Georgia also scored four runs in the third, with RBIs coming from William Ramirez, Justin Brooks, Luke Parks, and Benniefield.
Between Middle Georgia's two big innings, the Gyrenes scored a run of their own. The first batter of the top of the third inning was Wilfredo Acevedo, who launched Ave Maria's first home run of the season over the left field fence. At the time, Acevedo's home run cut the Middle Georgia lead to 3-1.
The hosts would score in three consecutive innings to extend their lead. Middle Georgia tallied a run in the fifth, another in the sixth, and two more in the seventh. Ave Maria's last run of the day came in the top of the sixth, when a Jakob MacLeod single allowed Kolby Blanchard to score. Blanchard reached base on a single to lead off the frame.
Ave Maria's next game will come on Wednesday, when the Gyrenes travel to West Palm Beach for a rematch with (RV) Keiser. The Gyrenes and Seahawks are scheduled to start at 2 p.m., with four games in Hattiesburg, Mississippi scheduled for the weekend.
