FORT MYERS, Fla. — Just like last week, the Gyrenes came up big in a game where their season was on the line against the Warner Royals. Ave Maria took down the Royals 6-3 Friday afternoon to survive and advance to day three in the SUN Conference Tournament.
Warner opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single, but their lead didn't last long. In the bottom half of the opening frame, Michael Kelly worked a bases loaded walk to tie the game at one. A wild pitch in the subsequent at-bat from the Warner starter, Logan Hewitt, brought in another run as well and put Ave Maria ahead 2-1.
The two teams held each other in check for the next three innings before Warner retook the lead in the fifth. The Royals brought home two more runs to move ahead 3-2. The Royals were in a position to score more, but a heads up play from the Gyrenes turned what should have been a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded into a 9-6-2 double play.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ave Maria regained the lead with two runs. Kyle Kuramoto brought home the first run on an RBI fielder's choice. He came in to score later in the inning on another wild pitch from Hewitt that put the Gyrenes up 4-3.
In the seventh, AMU added some insurance with Francesco Barbieri going deep for the second time this tournament with a solo shot to right field. He is the only player this tournament with multiple home runs and is currently sitting at 18 on the season.
When asked what it is like homering in a major league park, Barbieri said the feeling doesn't get old. "But that is just a testament to the work we put in all year. And that's not just me, that is the team putting me in a good spot and getting a good pitch and just got to make the most of it."
In the eighth, the Gyrenes added one more run for good measure with Connor James hitting a sacrifice fly to bring home Kelly for his second run of the game.
On the mound, Cam Horner made his 10th start of the season and tossed the first five innings. Despite the hiccups in the first and fifth, Horner was firing and retired nine straight batters between the first and fourth innings.
Isaac Hines relieved him in the sixth and seventh, striking out three batters and getting the win for Ave Maria, improving his record to 2-4.
Ethan Petric tossed the final two frames for the Gyrenes and got six up to go six down, earning his second save of the season.
With the win, Ave Maria survives and advances to day three of the SUN Conference Tournament. The Gyrenes improve their record to 22-25 on the year.
"[We] just showed a lot of grit," said head coach Nick McCormick following the win. "Fell down early, but the guys stuck with it throughout the entire game and ended up pulling out the W."
Ave Maria will look to add another "W" to their total tomorrow at 2:30 when they take on the Keiser Seahawks in Game 8 of the tournament. Keiser lost 12-5 to Webber Friday night to fall into the loser's bracket and face the Gyrenes. It's another elimination game for the Gyrenes, as the winner stays at JetBlue Park to play the loser of the early Southeastern/Webber game while the loser goes home.
"It's tournament baseball. Survive and advance," said McCormick. "One game at a time and we'll see what we can make happen."
The game between the Seahawks and the Gyrenes can be streamed live on the SUN Digital Network.
