AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Baseball team had another exciting ninth inning, this time in a much closer game, but still couldn't find a way past the RV Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles as the Gyrenes lost 4-2. Ave Maria played a clean game defensively but again had troubles at the plate against the Eagles.
The Gyrenes opened the scoring for the first time this series, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Off the first pitch he saw to start the frame, Brian Williams cranked a home run over the left field wall to give AMU the lead. It was the first homer of the season for Williams and the second of the sophomore's career.
After trailing for an inning, Oklahoma Wesleyan struck in the fourth inning, bringing home three runs to take the lead. All three runs scored with two outs on the board. Starter Cam Horner even got a strikeout during that stretch, but a wild pitch with two runners in scoring position brought home the third run, put runners on the corner and extended the inning at least one more batter.
Oklahoma Wesleyan added some more insurance in the fifth inning, taking a 4-1 lead.
Despite allowing the four runs, Horner had a good day on the mound, striking out a season-high eight batters. That brings his career total up 220, which passes him by Austin Munn (2013-17) for the second most strikeouts in AMU history. There is just one man to beat for Horner, Justin James (2010-12), who holds the program record at 272.
Alex Nickler closed out the fifth and then Owen Johnson took over on the mound for the rest of the game. The junior transfer did a good job at capping the Eagles, holding them to just three hits in four innings and getting two strikeouts. As a staff, the Gyrenes hit 10 strikeouts for the second game in a row.
The Gyrenes were held in check for the next three innings, not collecting any hits and getting just one baserunner off an OKWU error in the seventh.
Ave Maria had a good chance in the eighth inning, getting a leadoff hit from Michael Kelly and then Dakota Jones drawing a walk to put two runners on and the tying run at the plate. Unfortunately, a pop out and double play ended things before the comeback could get started.
In the ninth, the Gyrenes made one last furious attempt to extend the game. Jordan Crawford led off the frame with a walk, but then two quick outs put AMU's back against the wall. After a wild pitch moved Crawford up, Caleb Metzen got his second hit of the game with an RBI double that brought the Gyrenes within two. Metzen's two hits in the game were his second and third of the season.
Metzen moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch of his own and then a walk issued to Jesus Gonzalez put the tying run on at first and the winning run at the plate. Kelly, who led off the eighth with a single, put a good swing on the ball, but lined out to the first baseman to end the game.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 4-6 and they drop the non-conference series to Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Gyrenes can salvage the series by taking the series finale on Saturday. First pitch is set for noon in Saturday's getaway game and is part of a quadruple header on campus at Ave Maria with Rugby, Women's Basketball and Men's Basketball all at home. All four game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
