GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Gyrenes played one final game in the NAIA East West Challenge against the Hope International Royals in Glendale Saturday.  The Royals proved to be too much for the Gyrenes as they won 10-5.

Hope International scored early and often as the Royals jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Ave Maria got their first run in the fifth inning off a Harrison Rossi RBI single.

In the sixth, the Gyrenes added three more to their total to get within three runs of the Royals when David Leonardi went deep to right center field. It was the only homer of the day for the Gyrenes following their program record eight-home run day on Thursday. It was also Leonardi's third home run of the trip, with the senior from Southwest Ranches, Florida, hitting a dinger in each of the first three games for AMU.

Ave Maria got their fifth and final run of the game in the seventh inning when Connor James scored on a passed ball to make the score 7-5.

Unfortunately, the comeback fell short as Hope International added three runs in the bottom of the seventh to double up the Gyrenes 10-5.

Ave Maria threatened in the ninth by putting two on with nobody out to start the inning, but a lineout double play and a ground out ended the game in Hope International's favor, 10-5.

The Gyrenes finish their season opening trip in the desert 2-1.

Ave Maria is back in action February 17 and 18 with another out-of-state trip, this time to Fort Worth, Texas. The Gyrenes will take on two teams in the Lone Star State, the Wiley Wildcats and the Texas Wesleyan Rams, who were ranked #21 in the NAIA Preseason Poll. AMU played the Rams last season in the NAIA Opening Round, with the Gyrenes winning 20-8. Ave Maria has never played Wiley before.