BABSON PARK, Fla. — The Ave Maria University baseball team faced one of the top ten teams in the nation on Tuesday and suffered their first loss of the season via a 9-2 loss to the Webber International University Warriors at Babson Park. Despite pushing two runs, the Gyrenes failed to hit a hit against five Webber pitchers, although AMU did hit ten baserunners via eight walks, a hit batter, and a Webber error.
After two scoreless innings, Webber took the lead for good with four runs late in the third. None of the four runs scored via hit, with a baseloaded hit per pitch, baseloaded walk, wild pitch and defenseman pick doing the damage for the Warriors. In fact, Webber only needed one hit to score all four runs, which would be all the hosts needed in the non-conference affair.
Ave Maria’s two runs came in the sixth inning, cutting Webber’s lead to two runs. The Gyrenes loaded the bases on walks to Daniel Caylor and Cole Rasbury, as well as a hit-per-pitch to Michael Signorelli. Tanner Kelly then reached base on an error, driving Caylor home from third place. After an inside fly accounted for the second out, Tynan Shahidi drew a goal-laden walk, tackling pinch runner Eric Havner for AMU’s final run.
Webber picked up momentum in the bottom half of the frame, scoring three runs in two very different ways. The Warriors started the inning with a two-run homer from Brodey Neveker, then charged on two walks and one hit per pitch. The third walk, drawn by Tyren Milliner, brought home the seventh Warrior race of the evening.
Two more runs in the bottom of the eighth wrapped up Webber’s score. The Warriors put runners into the corners with no outs, with a Luis Acevedo single pushing the first run of the inning through the plate. The last run of the day was provided by Kris Allen, who led Drake Dobyanski with a single down the middle.
Five Gyrenes reached base several times in the losing effort. Cole Rasbury, Tynan Shahidi and Daniel Caylor all walked twice, Michael Signorelli walked and was hit by a pitch, and Tanner Kelly walked and reached on an error. Shahidi and Kelly were responsible for the team’s two RBIs, while Caylor and Eric Havner scored the runs. Kelton Little was AMU’s brightest spot on the mound, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Ave Maria is now leaving Florida State for the first time this season as the Gyrenes prepare for a three-game series against the Brewton-Parker College Barons. This series begins with a Friday doubleheader at Mount Vernon. The rubber game, or an opportunity for a team to claim a sweep, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday in the Peach State.
