FORT WORTH, Texas — The Ave Maria University baseball team opened their Texas road trip in dominant fashion, crushing the Wiley University Wildcats in both games of a doubleheader. Ave Maria won game one 19-0 and game two 12-0. The Gyrenes hit six dingers in game one, setting a new school record.
The Gyrenes opened game one with three runs in the first inning but kept the ball in play for all three scoring plays. AMU didn't leave the yard until the third inning when Luis Rodriguez-Gallo hit the first homer of the afternoon with a three-run blast to center field. Two batters later, Davis Blair went over the wall, bringing home another two runs. Ave Maria wasn't down there, with five more runners crossing home plate to finish the inning with 10 runs and a score of 13-0. That was the first time since February 3, 2023, Ave Maria has scored 10 runs in an inning, when they put up 10 in the sixth inning against the Brewton-Parker Barons.
The Gyrenes lit up the scoreboard again in the fifth inning with Michael Kelly and Francesco Barbieri both hitting two run bombs to make the score 17-0.
In the sixth, Rodriguez-Gallo, a transfer from former Sun Conference foe Thomas University, hit his second dinger of the season to tie the program record for homers in a game. The tie did last long though as Blair also hit his second homer of the contest giving the final score of 19-0.
On the mound, Cameron Horner was lights out, tossing five scoreless innings and striking out six batters for his second win of the season. Alex Nickler and Luke Zmolik each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game and complete the shutout.
In game two, Ave Maria didn't leave the ballpark as much, only two home runs compared to the early game's six, but still poured on the runs.
Tanner Kelly scored the first run of the game, coming home after the second baseman overthrew a ball hit by Barbieri. A couple of batters later, David Leonardi got into the home run party launching a lowering shot over the center field wall.
In the second inning, Rodriguez-Gallo capped off a career day with his third homer of the doubleheader. This time, it was a grand slam to right center giving the Gyrenes a 7-0 lead. He now becomes the second Gyrene this season with a three-homer doubleheader performance, following Barbieri's three homer doubleheader on opening day.
The scoring wasn't done in the second inning for AMU, with Harrison Rossi and Cole Rasbury scoring on two wild pitches.
Ave Maria added runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to make the final score 12-0.
Kevin Figueredo got his first win of the season on the mound in game two for the Gyrenes, pitching all but one out of the game. The senior hurler tossed 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out seven. Kelton Little got the final out of the game to preserve the double shutout for Ave Maria.
Over the two games, Ave Maria brought home 31 runs of 31 hits, 17 of which went for extra bases. The Gyrenes hit eight home runs, tying the program record of home runs in a double header which they set earlier this season on opening day. Gyrene pitchers also combined for 14 strikeouts on the day. It was just a masterclass in how to play baseball across the board from the Gyrenes.
With the two wins, they improve to 4-1 on the season. Ave Maria has one more doubleheader in the Lone Star State against the Texas Wesleyan Rams Sunday, February 18. The Gyrenes met the Rams for the first-time last season in the NAIA Opening Round, with Ave Maria winning 20-8. In the NAIA preseason polls, the Rams were ranked #21 in the country.
