AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team found themselves in a slugfest with the number two team in the country on Tuesday afternoon, as the St. Thomas University Bobcats traded shots with the host Gyrenes. St. Thomas had the last word in the non-conference affair, scoring the final two runs in an 18-16 battle.

St. Thomas took an early lead in the first three innings, opening up a 7-1 lead in the first three and a half innings. A bases-clearing double from Jack Khawly gave STU a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and four more runs were plated in the fourth on an error, a fielder's choice, and a two-run triple from Joey Thompson. The lone Ave Maria run in the first three innings was plated on an RBI single from Alex Perez.

Ave Maria roared back into the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring seven runs to take an 8-7 lead. Four RBI singles, provided by Kolby Blanchard, Anier Ricardo, Ethan Bergkamp, and Wilfredo Acevedo cut the STU lead to two runs. Jared Halteman tied the game with a two-run single, and an error from the Bobcats allowed the Gyrenes to take their first lead of the game. 

The Bobcats scored two runs to re-take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, but AMU responded with a run of their own to again even the score. St. Thomas needed just one hit in the inning, as an error off the bat of Kobe Lopez was responsible for both runs scoring. Ave Maria tied the game at nine when a sacrifice bunt from Bergkamp brought Ricardo in from third.

Eight more runs were scored between the teams in the sixth inning, with St. Thomas taking a 14-12 lead thanks to five runs. Three of STU's runs in the sixth were the direct result of errors, with other two coming on a fielder's choice and a bases loaded walk. Ave got three of the runs back in the bottom half of the frame, thanks to a three-run homer from Aidan Hickey.

The seventh inning favored Ave Maria, as the Gyrenes tied the game at 16 after answering STU's two-spot with four of their own. After a fielder's choice and an RBI single from D. Mondejar extended the Bobcats' lead to 16-12, Ave Maria tied the score thanks to a three-run double from Halteman and a sacrifice fly by Tyler Chase.

Tuesday's decisive runs scored in the top of the eighth inning, when the Bobcats scored the final two runs of the day. A passed ball gave St. Thomas the lead for good, and a wild pitch supplied an insurance run. Neither team would score in the final inning and a half, allowing the second-ranked Bobcats to escape with the win.

After facing the No. 2 NAIA team in the nation on Tuesday, the Gyrenes will prepare for the No.4 team this weekend. Ave Maria's next series in Sun Conference play will come against the Fire of Southeastern University in Lakeland. The series will start with one game on Friday before finishing with a Saturday doubleheader.