AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University baseball team needed just one more big hit on Tuesday afternoon, but came up just short in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Southeastern University Fire at Bowie's Ballpark. The Gyrenes led the Fire, who started the season as the No. 3 team in the nation in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, 3-1 after four innings, but three straight run scoring innings from SEU proved to be the difference.

Southeastern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from Gary Lora, but the Gyrenes answered with two in the bottom half. A single from Tanner Kelly and a double from Kolby Blanchard put two runners in scoring position, and a Jose Gonzalez single tied the game despite Blanchard being thrown out at the plate. After Ethan Bergkamp reached on a fielder's choice, Harrison Rossi drove in Gonzalez with a single. 

Ave Maria added their third run in the bottom of the second inning, which would prove to be their last runs of the day. Eli Garcia led off the frame with an infield single, and moved around to third on a double from Daniel Caylor. Kelly came through with one out, driving in Garcia with a single to left field. Ave Maria looked to add more with runners on first and second and one out, but an SEU double play got the Fire out of the inning. 

After scoreless frames in the third and fourth innings, Southeastern would score runs in the next three frames to take the lead. An error provided Southeastern's run in the fifth inning, while a wild pitch on a strikeout brought in the game-tying run in the top of the sixth. The game-winning run for the Fire was provided on a groundout, as Brian Fuentes drove in pinch runner Garrett Sheffield with a grounder to short.

Brandon Willoughby did his part to keep the Gyrenes in it, tossing three hitless innings after he came on in the seventh. He allowed just two baserunners, both via walks. The Gyrenes threatened in the seventh with runners on the corners, and had runners erased on the basepaths in the eighth (double play) and ninth (runner picked off) innings. 

AMU's early lead was also due to the pitching of Cameron Horner. The freshman allowed one earned run over five innings in his start, and left with the Gyrenes leading 3-2. Kelly led the Gyrenes at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Blanchard also added two hits, including a double, in the losing effort.

The Gyrenes will rest for nearly a week before playing again, as this weekend will mark their first without games since the start of the season. The schedule will resume Monday, when Ave Maria welcomes Montreat College from North Carolina to Bowie's Ballpark. First pitch of the non-conference doubleheader, AMU's last games before conference play starts, is scheduled for 11 a.m.