LAKELAND, Fla. — After winning a dramatic series opener, the Ave Maria baseball team couldn't extend the magic to either game on Saturday as the Gyrenes dropped both games of a doubleheader to the Southeastern Fire. The Fire shut out the Gyrenes 6-0 in the first game, then won 14-4 in the second.
Southeastern scored all six of their runs in the opening off four hits, two errors, two hit by pitches and a walk. Two of the four hits were long balls as the Fire left Ted. A Broer Stadium.
Christian Prull entered the game for Christopher Risola after the second Southeastern home run. Prull got a pop out to end the inning and then tossed the next three frames for the Gyrenes. Prull did not allow a run to score and only gave up one hit.
Vance Sullivan pitched the final two innings for the Gyrenes, retiring six batters in a row.
At the plate, the Gyrenes registered more hits than the Fire, but had trouble stacking those hits together to produce runs. The best chance Ave Maria got was in the third inning when they loaded the bases with just one out. Unfortunately, a foul out and fielder's choice ended the frame before the Gyrenes could get on the scoreboard.
Chris Myers led the team at the plate, registering a career-high two hits.
Ave Maria got on the board in game two but couldn't stop the Fire from scoring as they run ruled the Gyrenes in seven innings.
AMU scored the first runs of the game in the opening frame, getting back-to-back RBI singles from Ri'Shon Pearl and Joe Manesiotis. Pearl brought home Anthony Fernandez and then was brought home by Manesiotis.
Southeastern immediately responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. The Fire then took the lead with three in the bottom of the second to go up 5-2.
Ave Maria got a run back in the third with an RBI double from Kyle Magdic that scored Michael Kelly, but the Gyrenes couldn't do any more damage.
In the fourth, Southeastern plated three more runs, taking an 8-3 lead.
Pearl scored the final run of the day for the Gyrenes with a solo homer to left center field. It was his second round-tripper of the year and first since March 19 against Keiser.
Southeastern brought home two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and then scored the final four runs they needed to hit the run rule in the bottom of the seventh.
Pearl was the only Gyrene in the game to register a multi-hit game with two.
With the two losses, Ave Maria falls to 10-16 overall and 7-12 in conference play. The Gyrenes are currently in sixth place of the Sun Conference standing, meaning they would be the last team in the Sun Conference tournament. AMU is a half-game ahead of New College, who would be the first team out.
The series between the Gyrenes and Fire concludes Saturday, April 11. Ave Maria will look to secure the split against the Fire, something two teams have not done since the Sun Conference moved to four game series in 2024. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
