AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Baseball team scored a season-high 19 runs in their series opener against the Fisher Falcons Tuesday evening, winning 19-2 in a mercy rule seven innings. Seventeen runs crossed home plate in the first three innings as the Gyrenes couldn't help but score.
In the first inning, Ave Maria brought home five runs off two hits and three errors from the Fisher defense. All five runs were scored with two outs on the board. Fisher got two flyouts to start and then things went off the rails. Two hit-by-pitches put two runners on with two outs. Davis Blair notched the first hit for the Gyrenes with an RBI single that scored Jordan Crawford. A balk brought in the next run for the Gyrenes, and then Blair was brought home with an RBI single from Michael Kelly. In the next at bat, Kelly scored on a throwing error from the pitcher, who tried to catch the junior stealing second. The ball rolled all the way to the fence and Kelly was able to run home while the Falcons defense recovered the ball. A dropped third strike and error brought home the Gyrenes' fifth run of the inning.
In the second, Ave Maria plated four more runs off four hits and one error. Crawford got the scoring started with an RBI double. He was later brought home after the Falcons' catcher tried to pick him off at third base but plunked him in the back instead and sent the ball rolling into left field. The final two runs were brought home off RBI singles from Sebastian Cabeza and Jimmy Coffey.
The third inning was the biggest of the night for the Gyrenes, bringing home eight runs off six hits. After two early runs scored in the inning, the bulk of the runs were brought home off a three-run blast from Michael Kelly that put Ave Maria up 14-1. It was his third homer of the season, which ties him with his brother Tanner and Jesus Gonzalez for the most dingers on the team.
Three more runs scored in the inning with a two-RBI double from Gonzalez and an RBI single from Tanner Kelly.
The final two runs came into score in the fifth inning with an RBI single from Chris Myers to bring home Callan Carn and a sacrifice fly from Dakota Jones to bring home Caleb Metzen. Carn, who is usually a pitcher, pinch hit for Sebastion Cabeza. It was his second plate appearance ever as a Gyrene and he was plunked on the first pitch to get on base.
Ave Maria's 19 runs is tied for the third-most in a game in program history. The Gyrenes have scored 19 runs three other times, most recently February 17, 2024, against the Wiley Wildcats. The program record remains at 21 runs scored, which Ave Maria did in the inaugural season on March 26, 2010.
Not to be outdone by the hitters, starter Owen Johnson put together a quality start, throwing six innings and only allowing two runs off six hits and three walks. The highlight of the night for Johnson was he struck out 10 batters, a season-high for any Gyrene pitcher.
In the final frame, Paul Arencibia made his second appearance of the season and struck out three batters to end the game. Arencibia and Johnson finished the game with 13 strikeouts, which is a season high for the pitching staff as a whole.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 10-11 on the year and 4-4 at home. It was also the fourth night game at Bowie's Ballpark this season and the Gyrenes are now 2-2 under the lights at home.
The Gyrenes wrap up their non-conference series with Fisher, Wednesday, March 5, with a doubleheader. Both games are scheduled to be seven innings, while Tuesday ended in seven innings because of a mercy rule. First pitches for Wednesday are set for 12 and 3 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the Sun Digital Network.
