AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Ave Maria University baseball team posted its third straight win with a 7-5 non-conference victory over Florida National on Thursday afternoon at Bowie's Ballpark.
Seven different players drove in a run for the Gyrenes as they amassed eight hits and drew a total of 10 walks. Florida National committed four errors to aid the AMU victory.
AMU right hander Carter Sullivan earned his first win of the season after opening the contest by allowing just one earned run and three hits over the initial 6.1 innings. The freshman struck out six and walked four in improving his record to 1-2.
Junior Evan Mercure notched his first save after recording the final out after entering the game in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded with Conquistadors.
The win, which marked the third consecutive for the Gyrenes, moves AMU's overall record to 7-12. Florida National slips to 3-9.
The Gyrenes led from the outset in Thursday's win as it opened a 4-0 advantage through the first four innings. Four walks in the bottom half of the first by FNU starter Mario Benjamin led to AMU's first run.
Brody Rubenstein increased the lead to 2-0 with an RBI fielder's choice in the third before a pair of runs in the fourth, including a run-scoring double by Kolby Blanchard upped the edge to 4-0.
Florida National finally broke through in the top of the seventh with a single tally on the strength of an AMU error and a pair of singles to get within 4-1.
Wilfredo Acevedo and Anier Ricardo each registered RBI singles in the seventh and eighth innings respectively, along with a sacrifice fly by David Leonardi, padding the AMU lead to 7-1.
Florida National put together a rally in the top of the ninth, which saw it score three runs. After three of the first four Conquistadors hitters drew a walk to load the bases with one out, Simon Dalmau drove home the first run of the inning on a fielders choice. Gabriel Vasquez followed with an RBI single before Manuel Blanco was hit by a pitch to drive in the third run of the frame and keep the bases loaded.
Mercure then entered the game for the Gyrenes and recorded the last out of the contest on a comebacker to the mound to secure the save.
Thursday's victory followed a 14-0 shutout by the Gyrenes against Bryant and Stratton (N.Y.) on Wednesday. Ave Maria tabbed 14 hits in Wednesday's win, including four of the extra base variety.
Ryan Schroeder (5.0), Mercure (1.0) and Fernando Fernandez (1.0) combined for the complete-game shutout. The trio did not allow a single walk and fanned 10.
The Gyrenes and Florida National close out the three-game series on Friday, March 5 with a doubleheader beginning at Bowie's Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
