MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ave Maria Baseball team dropped both games of their doubleheader Friday to the St. Thomas Bobcats, but the day still had a silver lining. New College of Florida lost one game and Florida Memorial lost two games on Friday which mathematically eliminates both teams from the Sun Conference tournament and clinches a spot in the postseason for the Gyrenes. It is the fourth straight season the Gyrenes have clinched a spot in the conference tournament.
On the field, Ave Maria lost the first game 11-3 to the Bobcats and the second game 10-6.
In the first game, St. Thomas jumped out to a very big lead, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. The Bobcats brought home five runs in the first and three runs in the second.
The Gyrenes got a couple of runs back in the top of the third with an RBI single from Michael Kelly and a sacrifice fly from Kyle Magdic.
Ave Maria scored one more run in the top of the fourth when Joe Manesiotis went deep for his second home run of the season. The solo shot cut the deficit back down to five, but that was as close as the Gyrenes would get.
St. Thomas scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and then closed the game out in the top of the seventh.
Karson Green was the only Gyrene to get multiple hits in the first game, logging two singles. Omari Swinton courtesy ran for the catcher and scored the run off the RBI single from Kelly.
On the mound, Jack McGlynn tossed five of the six innings, matching a season-high. Joey Pagni entered in the sixth and helped get the final three outs of the frame.
Game two saw the Gyrenes score a few more runs and get a little closer to the Bobcats but still come up short as they fell 10-6.
Just like in the first game of the twin bill, St. Thomas got out to a big lead with one run in the first and four in the second.
Ave Maria scored two runs in the third with a sacrifice fly from Fernandez and an RBI single from Magdic. However, St. Thomas responded with two runs of their own to put the lead back at five.
Fernandez put the Gyrenes back on the board in the top of the fifth with a 2-RBI double to right field that scored Kelly and Patrick Corley. The Bobcats got a run in the bottom half of the frame, but the fifth still netted a positive run for the Gyrenes.
In the next inning, Kelly went deep to right field for a two run blast, bringing home Corley and himself. It was Kelly's first home run of the season and 13
th career homer at Ave Maria. The dinger brought the Gyrenes within two runs at 8-6.
Unfortunately, that was the last time Ave Maria would light up the scoreboard. The Gyrenes were held to just two hits in the final three innings.
St. Thomas scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain their four-run and make the final score 10-6.
Magdic and Kelton Klemcke were the two Gyrenes with multiple hits in game two.
On the mound, Caleb West made the start and got into some early trouble. Ben Hyland relieved him and tossed the bulk of the game at 4.1 innings. Joe Ferri finished the final 1.1 innings.
With the two losses, Ave Maria falls to 13-21 overall and 10-17 in conference play. St. Thomas, whom the Gyrenes were tied with for fifth place coming into the twin bill, rises to 12-15 in league play, securing fifth place over the Gyrenes.
With the losses to New College and Florida Memorial, both the Mighty Banyans and the Lions have eight wins in conference play. With just one more game to go, neither team can catch the Gyrenes at 10 wins.
The final game of the regular season is set for Saturday, April 25. The Gyrenes have now clinched their spot in the tournament and can't catch St. Thomas in fifth place but still want to end the regular season on win before heading to the postseason. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
