BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team began Sun Conference play on Friday evening, as the Gyrenes played the first of a three-game series against the Warriors of Webber International University. Ave Maria dropped a 16-6 decision at Heart of Florida Field in an eight inning affair that was ended due to the NAIA run rule.

Ave Maria scored the first run of the evening, plating one in the top of the first. Jared Halteman doubled down the right field line with one out, and was then driven in by Tyler Chase. Chase gave the Gyrenes a 1-0 lead with a double to left center field.

The next five runs were scored by Webber, who scored twice in the bottom of the first and opened the lead up with three in the third. Both WIU runs came with two outs in the first inning, as Victor Florentino and Bryan Eusebio supplied RBI singles. In the third inning, the first run came in on an error, while the lead was extended on a double from Hunter Morales and a single from Florentino.

Trailing by four runs, the Gyrenes got a run back in the top of the fourth, doing so with one swing of the bat. With two outs in the frame, Ethan Bergkamp belted his first home run of the season, a solo shot that cut Webber's lead to 5-2.

Once again, the Warriors were able to open their lead up, scoring two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. A two-run homer from Ricky Neyman did the damage in the bottom of the fourth, while a Florentino triple and a sacrifice fly from Eusebio extended the Warriors' lead to 9-2.

AMU got back in the game for the time being in the seventh, coming within three runs thanks to a four-spot. With the bases empty and two outs, Daniel Caylor doubled and Jared Halteman extended the inning with a walk. Alex Perez cut the Webber lead to six runs on an RBI single, and Chase cleared the fence for his first home run of the season to get AMU within three at 9-6.

Webber turned the three-run game into a ten-run final in the bottom of the eighth, scoring seven to enact the run rule. Three of the seven runs scored as the direct result of an Ave Maria error, while the other four runs were driven in by Florentino, Anthony Arancibia, Rougie Odor, and Carlo Mancillas. Webber needed just one hit in the inning, taking advantage of six walks, a hit by pitch, and the two errors.

The series continues on Saturday, as the Gyrenes and Warriors will play a Sun Conference doubleheader at Heart of Florida Field. First pitch of the opening game of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon, with the nightcap to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.