AVE MARIA, Fla. — Ave Maria split a doubleheader with the Keiser Seahawks Saturday, dropping game one 6-4 and winning the series finale 10-5. The Gyrenes came back down three runs in both games, but only held on to win in the late in game.
The early game did not see a lot of action at the plate for the Gyrenes in the first seven innings. The pitching staff held the Seahawks at bay as well for the most part, but a wild pitch and the first and a two run homer in the fifth put KU up 3-0.
Luke Zmolik got the start for the Gyrenes and tossed six innings, allowing three runs off four hits and striking out a season-high seven batters. Ethan Petric pitched the seventh and part of the eighth, keeping the Seahawks off the board while getting one strikeout. After allowing two walks though, Alex Nickler came in to wrap up the frame getting a strikeout and a groundout around a hit batsman to close out the inning and keep the Seahawks at three.
In the bottom of eighth, the Gyrenes got some life at the plate and tied the game up at three. A Kyle Kuramoto single and a Tanner Kelly walk put two on with one out for Francesco Barbieri, who slapped his third single of the season to right center, bringing both runners home. An RBI groundout in the next at bat brought home Barbieri for the tying run.
In the ninth, Ave Maria flirted with disaster trying to keep it a tie ballgame. A walk and a fielder's choice put one on out for the Seahawks when the Gyrenes reached into the bullpen for Isaac Hines. Back-to-back walks, one intentional after a wild pitch advanced two runners into scoring position, loaded the bases for the Seahawks. Hines then struck out the next batter for the second batter and got to a full count looking to leave the bags full of Seahawks and the game tied. However, the payoff pitch was outside and walked in the go-ahead run.
The next Keiser batter then reached on a throwing error bringing two more runners home and giving the Seahawks a 6-3 lead.
The Gyrenes showed life in the bottom half of the final inning and got the tying run aboard. With two on, the Keiser defense botched a double play ball and Eric Havner, who was on second, came into score. Cole Rasbury, who reached on the fielder's choice, stole second and third to get 90 feet away from scoring. Connor James worked a walk to get the tying run on first with two outs for the Gyrenes. Unfortunately, a flyout ended the comeback hopes and gave game one of the doubleheader to the Seahawks.
In the late game, the Seahawks brought home three runs in the second inning to get their second three-run lead of the game.
Ave Maria got a run back in the third when James and Barbieri ran a double steal, and the Keiser catcher overthrew second, allowing James to score on the error.
The Gyrenes tied the game in the fifth with Kelly smoking a single through the second baseman bringing home James for his second run of the game. Kelly came into score himself off a Luis Rodriguez-Gallo RBI single to right field.
Tied at three, Keiser brought home a run in the sixth and seventh to retake the lead.
The resilient Gyrenes held steady though and fought back to tie the game once again, bringing home two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Michael Signorelli, who entered the game after a nasty collision at the plate sent Rodriguez-Gallo to the bench, shot a ball to left field that the Seahawk defender just missed and rolled passed him. Barbieri scored and Kelly moved up to third. A couple of at bats later, Kyle Kuramoto laced a single to left field bringing home Kelly and tying the game at 5.
Ave Maria held the Seahawks in the eighth inning to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the frame, the Gyrenes poured on the runs to take their first lead since game one of the series.
An error and two walks loaded the bases with nobody out to start the frame. Kelly then drew the third walk in a row from Keiser pitching to bring home the winning run. David Leonardi then dropped a two-RBI single in center field to give AMU an 8-5 lead. The final two runs of the frame came when Michael Kelly roped a triple down the right field line putting Ave Maria up 10-5. It was the second triple of the doubleheader for the Gyrenes and the first of the sophomore's career.
In the ninth, the Gyrenes got a double play to end it and win the final game 10-5.
Blake Albritton, who tossed the final 2.1 innings got the win, improving his record to 4-4. Ryan Schroeder made his third start of the season in bullpen game for the Gyrenes, while senior Callan Carn tossed a season-high four innings. Matt Barragy was the other pitcher to get work in the game for the Gyrenes.
At the plate, AMU drew 10 walks, the most in a game this season. Senior Harrison Rossi drew three of those walks, a career-high for him.
With the split, Ave Maria finishes the series with an 18-23 overall record and a 5-15 conference record. That ties them with the Florida Memorial Lions for sixth place in the SUN Conference, the last spot that will be let in the postseason. Ave Maria has the tiebreaker on the Lions having won the head-to-head series three games to one March 23-24. So, the path to jetBlue park is clear for the Gyrenes, match or do better than the Lions in the final conference series April 25-26. Florida Memorial will make the two minute drive east to St. Thomas to finish out their regular season next week while the Gyrenes will host the Warner Royals.
Before those final four conference games though, the Gyrenes will make a quick trip up to Jacksonville, Florida, to take on the Trinity Baptist Eagles. This doubleheader was originally scheduled for March 27, but was pushed back after heavy rain pushed the series with Florida Memorial from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday.
