WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  – The Ave Maria University baseball team rallied with a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings before coming up on the short end of an 8-5 decision in the opening contest of a three-game Sun Conference series at No. 8 Keiser on Friday afternoon.
 
Trailing 4-1 entering the top of the eighth, junior Wilfredo Acevedo started the rally with his fourth homer of the season to lead off the frame – a solo shot over the left field wall that trimmed the deficit to 4-2.  Hayden Sullivan followed with a single and scored two hitters later on fielder's choice by senior Alex Perez to get the Gyrenes within 4-3.
 
Unfortunately for AMU, Keiser would answer with four runs in the bottom of the eighth.  Pinch hitter Xavier Acosta provided the big blow with a three-run blast to left field that made the score 8-3.
 
Junior Daniel Caylor laced an RBI double to drive home Clayton Stanley in the ninth and senior Ethan Bergkamp crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the final run of the contest.
 
Anier Ricardo drove in the Gyrenes' first run of the contest with an RBI double in the top of the second.
 
Freshman right hander Ethan Wood (2-2) took the loss for AMU after allowing seven hits and seven runs (six earned) over seven innings of work.  He walked four and fanned three.  Senior Christian Whitlatch appeared in relief for the third consecutive game and limited the Seahawks to a single run in his one inning of action.
 
Keiser starter Pablo Arevalo (6-3) earned the victory with an eight-inning effort that saw him allow three runs on five hits.  He finished the game with 11 strikeouts.
 
The Gyrenes return to action at No. 8 Keiser on Saturday, March 27 for a doubleheader that is slated for a 12 p.m. EDT start.