AVE MARIA, Fla.  – No. 14 St. Thomas used a four-run fourth inning to post a 9-4 victory over the Ave Maria University baseball team in the opening game of a three-game Sun Conference set on Friday afternoon at Bowie's Ballpark.
 
The Gyrenes opened the contest strong and saw the score tied at 1-1 through the first three innings of action before a four-spot in the top of the fourth gave the Bobcats a lead that they would not relinquish.
 
The four-run outburst came despite St. Thomas managing only one hit in the frame.  St. Thomas did the majority of its damage due to the three walks, hit batter and wild pitch allowed by AMU.
 
The Bobcats also claimed the game's first lead at 1-0 on a run that crossed on a wild pitch in the top of the first.
 
Junior Daniel Caylor singled to lead off the bottom of the third and then utilized his base running prowess to manufacture a run for the Gyrenes and tie the scoreboard at 1-1.  Caylor stole second and third and then scored on an error by St. Thomas second baseman Josue Rangel.
 
Freshman Hayden Sullivan launched his second home run of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth, trimming the lead to 5-3.
 
Senior Daniel Mondejar hit a solo shot for St. Thomas in the top of the sixth and the Bobcats added a pair of runs in the seventh on a RBI single by Alejandro Rivero and an error by the AMU defense.
 
Sophomore Anier Ricardo drove in the final run of the game for the Gyrenes with a single in the eighth.
 
Senior Ernesto Pino (7-1) earned the victory for the Bobcats after limiting AMU to four hits and three runs (two earned) and striking out seven over five innings.  Senior Jason Graña pitched the final three innings to earn the save.
 
Freshman Ethan Wood (2-3) took the loss for AMU after giving up four hits and six runs over six innings of work.  He also fanned eight and walked three.
 
The Gyrenes close out the weekend series with No. 14 St. Thomas with a twin bill on Saturday, April 10 slated for a 12 p.m. EDT first pitch at Bowie's Ballpark.