MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ave Maria dropped the series finale to the St. Thomas Bobcats Saturday afternoon, losing 10-3. The loss clinched the series for the Bobcats, who won three games to one.

The Gyrenes were the first to get on the board, scoring a run in the second. Brian Williams hit an infield single to third base, bringing home Connor James who courtesy ran for catcher Luis Rodriguez-Gallo.

Unfortunately, the lead did not last long. St. Thomas responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

David Leonardi tied the game in the next inning with a solo shot to left field. It was his third homer of the series and his eighth of the season.

St. Thomas took the lead for good in the fourth inning, bringing home five runs, taking a 7-2 lead. The five runs are tied for the most allowed in an inning this season by the Gyrenes. It has happened twice this season, first in game Ave Maria beat Arizona Christian and then in a game Ave Maria lost to Webber. St. Thomas added one more in the fifth to take an 8-2 lead.

The Gyrenes scored their final run in the sixth with Kyle Kuramoto crushing a dinger over right field for his first home run of the season. It was also the 33rd homer for the Gyrenes, tying the 2021 season for the third most in a year in program history. Through 22 games, Ave Maria is on pace for 67 home runs in the regular season, which would pass the program record by 17.

St. Thomas scored their final two runs in the sixth inning and then shut out the Gyrenes for the final three innings. Ave Maria got runners on the corners in the top of the eighth but couldn't bring them home.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 11-11 on the year and 1-7 in conference play. The Gyrenes will next take the field next Friday, March 22, with a home doubleheader against Florida Memorial. It will be the first home conference series for the Gyrenes this season.