WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Ave Maria Baseball team played a solo game against Keiser Saturday in preparation for their conference series against the Seahawks later in the season. The Gyrenes took an early lead against the No. 22 team in the country but could not hold on as they fell 5-2.
Ri'Shon Pearl got the scoring started in the top of the first inning with a single up the middle that brought home Michael Kelly. The single also moved Kyle Magdic to third, putting runners on the corners with only one out, but a double play ended Ave Maria's momentum.
Keiser kept the Gyrenes quiet for the next six innings while they put up two runs in both the third and fourth innings and a fifth run in the seventh. The final run was off a solo shot to left field.
Ave Maria got a run back in the top of the eighth. Kelly led off the frame with a single, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Edwin Silverio Jr. brought him home with an RBI groundout.
The Gyrenes got a baserunner in the ninth inning but couldn't keep the comeback attempt going as the Seahawks secured the win.
On the mound, Ave Maria used eight pitchers in eight different innings. Chris Risola made his fourth start of the year and tossed a clean first inning. Christian Prull tossed the third inning and gave up the two runs to Seahawks which gave him his first loss of the season. Jack McGylnn pitched the longest out of all the pitchers, tossing 2.1 hitless innings and striking out three batters.
Eight pitchers are the most used in a single game since March 7, 2022, when Ave Maria had eight arms throw against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 5-6 overall. Saturday's contest did not count as a conference game between the Gyrenes and Seahawks. That conference series is set for March 19-21.
Ave Maria has a conference series beforehand as the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans come to town. This is the second season as a Sun Conference member for the Mighty Banyans and the two teams split the first season's series two games apiece. The weekend action starts Friday with a doubleheader. Game one's first pitch is set for 3 p.m. with game two set to start around 6 p.m. The games will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
