Note: Ave Maria protested the game in the top of the eighth inning. An eventual ruling from The Sun Conference office will be noted in this story when available.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ave Maria Gyrenes lost their first Sun Conference game of the season, falling 4-3 to the Florida Memorial Lions. The Gyrenes got out to an early lead in the first inning, but couldn't bring runners home in the later innings.
Tanner Kelly got the first inning started with a leadoff single, increasing is record setting on-base streak to 26 straight games, four games longer than the previous record. After stealing second, Kelly came home to score when David Leonardi reached base safely on an error by the Lions' left fielder. Leonardi ended up at third at the end of the play. Tynan Shahidi brought Leonardi home during the next at bat with an RBI ground out.
Florida Memorial scattered a couple runs over the next few innings to tie the game at two. AMU's starter, Cameron Horner didn't throw his best game of the season, but still pitched very well in the series opener. Horner allowed those two runs to score on six hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking three. He threw 102 pitches, which is the second most he has thrown this season.
Both teams scored a run in the seventh to keep the game tied. Ave Maria's run was scored by Jose Gonzalez, who came home on a wild pitch after hitting his third triple of the season.
In the eighth inning, the Lions scored the decisive run with runners coming home on a dropped infield fly by the Gyrenes.
The Gyrenes tried to comeback in the top of the ninth, but couldn't get it done and Florida Memorial took game one of the series.
With the loss, the Gyrenes fall to 19-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Ave Maria will close out the series Saturday with a doubleheader against Florida Memorial. The Gyrenes have yet to lose a series this season and they will need to sweep the Lions in both games on Saturday to keep that streak alive. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the game can be streamed on the Sun Digital Network and HBCU League Pass Plus.
