FORT WORTH, Texas — Ave Maria dropped two close games to the Texas Wesleyan Rams, losing both games by a score of 6-5.
In game one, Ave Maria struck first, scoring two runs in the opening frame off a Harrison Rossi single and another in the second off a Francesco Barbieri double.
Sean Hogan started on the mound for the Gyrenes and threw three hitless innings with six strikeouts to open the game. However, the Rams broke through in the fourth inning to score their first runs of the game, getting within one of Ave Maria.
In the fifth, Texas Wesleyan put up four runs to take a 6-3 lead with an RBI double and two singles.
Ave Maria got back within one in the sixth inning, starting with a solo home run from Cole Rasbury, his first of the season, and getting within one run off a sacrifice lineout from Michael Kelly.
The Gyrenes got a runner to represent the tying run in the top of the seventh but couldn't bring him home and lost 6-5.
In game two of the doubleheader, Texas Wesleyan got on the board first putting two runs on the board in bottom of the first inning. It was only the second time this season an opponent has scored first before the Gyrenes.
AMU got a run back in the top of the second with an RBI single from Rossi but couldn't capitalize off that momentum.
Texas Wesleyan scored three more runs in the bottom of the frame to jump out to a 5-1 lead.
Both teams were held in check for the next two innings, but finally the Gyrenes broke through in the top of the fifth. With two runners on, Barbieri knocked a double to left center to bring home two runs and make it 5-3. A couple of batters later, Davis Blair got in on the action and smacked a single to left field, also bringing in two runs to tie the game at five.
It felt like the momentum was finally on the Gyrenes' side, but Texas Wesleyan was able to bring home one run in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead.
In the final two innings, Ave Maria got baserunners, but a caught stealing and a pickoff attempt ruined any chances of a comeback for the Gyrenes.
On the mound, Blake Albritton came into pitch the final five innings of the game after Texas Wesleyan jumped out to their 5-1 lead. The sophomore did well at keeping the Rams at bay, only allowing one more run to score off two hits and one walk while striking out three.
With the two losses, Ave Maria finishes their big trip to the Lone Star State 2-2 and is 4-3 overall in 2024. The Gyrenes return back to action Wednesday, February 21, when they travel up to Bradenton, Florida, to take on the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans. 2024 is the inaugural season for the Mighty Banyans who are 4-5. In their most recent doubleheader, NCF split the two games with Sun Conference foe Florida Memorial. The Mighty Banyans will join the Sun Conference in 2025, but for this year, the upcoming doubleheader with the Gyrenes will count as a non-conference game.
