MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ave Maria Baseball team dropped their series finale to the St. Thomas Bobcats 12-2 Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes took an early lead, but St. Thomas immediately responded and never looked back.

Anthony Fernandez opened the scoring in the third inning with a solo homer to left field. It was his second dinger of the season and first since March 27 against Webber.

The lead did not last long as St. Thomas responded with three runs in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back RBI singles brought in the runs for the Bobcats and were their first hits of the game.

Ave Maria got back within a run in the top of the fifth inning when Kyle Magdic knocked a single to left field that score Michael Kelly. Magdic made it to third and was 90 feet away from tying the game, but a strikeout ended the frame before the Gyrenes could even up the score.

Just like in the third inning, St. Thomas responded to a Gyrene run with a crooked number in the bottom half of the frame. This time, the Bobcats brought home two runs to take a 5-2 lead.

The Bobcats exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring enough to run-rule the Gyrenes. The seven runs were brought in off eight hits and three errors from Ave Maria. St. Thomas even left the bases loaded after the 10^th run crossed home plate and ended the game.

At the plate, three Gyrenes logged multiple hits as Kelly, Fernandez and Jake LaVine each had two knocks.

Caleb Niese made his third start of the season and tossed the first 3.1 innings, allowing three runs off two hits and four walks while striking out four. Isaac Hines relieved in the fourth inning and induced a bases loaded double play to end the inning. Luke Burley got into some trouble in the fifth and was relieved by Chris Risola, who tossed 2.1 innings. Risola got into trouble in the seventh and was relieved by Christian Prull as St. Thomas scored the final runs of the game.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 13-22 overall and finishes their conference season with a 10-18 record.

The Gyrenes now turn their attention to the postseason as they qualified for the Sun Conference Tournament for the fourth season in row. Ave Maria will be the sixth and final seed in the bracket and will take on the top seed Webber Warriors on the first day. If they win, they stay in the winner's bracket and will take on the loser of Keiser and Warner. If they lose to Webber, they will play the loser of St. Thomas vs Southeastern.

Ave Maria and Webber will be the first game of the tournament and is slated for Thursday, April 30, with first pitch at 11 a.m. The game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network by the Gyrene broadcast team.