AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader Saturday to the Webber Warriors, getting swept for the first time in 2023. Both games saw the Gyrenes stay close to the Warriors, but never be able to catch them.
In game one, the Warriors jumped out to a big lead, bringing home five runs in the top of the second. Ave Maria would have their own high scoring inning in the home half, scoring four runs and getting within one. Cole Rasbury brought home the first run with an RBI double, and then Axel Melendez hit his first home run of the 2023 season, a three-run bomb over the right field wall that made it 5-4.
In the fourth, the Gyrenes tied the game at five with a Daniel Caylor sacrifice fly. This, however, would be the closest the Gyrenes get to leading in the game.
In the next half inning, the Warriors put up a three spot to get back out to an 8-5 lead. From then on, the Warriors cruised in the game. Anytime the Gyrenes scored a run to get back in the game, Webber would get another run the next inning. AMU gets one in the sixth, WIU gets two in the seventh. Ave Maria scores two in the eighth, Webber gets one in the ninth, and that's how game one ended, with the Warriors winning 11-8.
Game two saw a lot less runs between the two teams, but unfortunately the same result. This time Ave Maria opened the scoring, taking their first lead of the series with a Jose Gonzalez RBI double in the third inning that scored Francesco Barbieri who was running for catcher Michael Signorelli.
The lead didn't last long, as Webber brought home three runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Starter Ryan Schroeder had been good for the first four innings, but got burned in the fifth, giving up three runs. Aside from those runs, Schroeder had struck out seven batters up to that point.
In the bottom half of the frame, Gonzalez hit another RBI double, his second two-bagger of the game and 17th of the season, this time scoring Rasbury and bring the Gyrenes within one.
In the sixth, Webber extended their lead, plating two more runs before chasing starter Schroeder. The junior from Jacksonville, Florida, ended his day with eight strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched, and five runs allowed on nine hits.
Matt Barragy came out of the bullpen to finish off the inning, but the damage was done.
In the seventh, Blake Albritton came out of the bullpen to relieve Barragy who had gotten into some trouble in the beginning of the frame. The freshman closed out the game for Gyrenes on the mound, tossing the final 2.2 innings, not allowing a single hit, only giving up one walk and striking out four.
In the home half of the seventh, Gonzalez for the third time brought home a run with an extra-base hit for the Gyrenes, this time a solo home run to right field. It was the sophomore's seventh home run of the season and his 18th career home run, tying him with Rico Soto for fourth on the all-time Ave Maria leaderboard. Soto played for the Gyrenes from 2015-18.
In the ninth inning, the Gyrenes tried to rally, loading the bases with two outs, putting the tying run at second base and the winning run at first. Unfortunately, their luck ran just a little short as a fielder's choice ended the game and the series in a sweep for Webber. It is just the first time the Gyrenes have been swept this season, having posted a series record 13-3-1 for 2023.
With the loss, Ave Maria finishes the 2023 regular season with a 33-14 record and 13-8 in conference play. They finished second in the conference and will have the two seed in the Sun Conference Tournament starting Thursday, May 4. The Gyrenes will play Keiser in their first game of the double elimination style tournament. It is just the second time Ave Maria has made the postseason since the program started in 2010. All tournament games will be broadcasted on the Sun Digital Network which can be accessed on the website or the app available on most cellular devices and smart TVs. Live stats and recaps can also be found on avemariagyrenes.com.
