The Ave Maria Baseball Team went 6-2 during last week’s spring road trip with wins over three conference opponents - Edward Waters, Southeastern, and Savannah College of Art and Design.

They kicked off their spring break by defeating Valley Forge Christian University on Southeastern University’s Ted A. Broer Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. AMU Senior, Chris Suchomski took the win for the Gyrenes as they pushed across 14 runs in the 14-4 victory. This was the start of a four game winning streak for AMU.

On offense, the Gyrenes were led by Edgardo Balentine – 2-3 with a RBI, Brian Trymbiski – 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored, and Gabe Loweree – 2-4 with a RBI and 3 runs scored. The Gyrenes scored 8 runs in the fourth inning and banged out 9 hits in the game.

That same day, the Gyrenes went up against Cincinnati Christian in a 7 p.m. night game. The game was close at 4-3 in the third inning with the Gyrenes on top, but AMU scored 3 in the final inning to win 9-3. Freshman Cody Muren went 4 innings on the mound allowing just 3 hits over 4 innings to give AMU a chance to win. Normally an infielder, Muren earned his first win of the season. Leo Suarez followed Muren and pitched a scoreless 5th. Closer, Tom Bracht got the save as he struck out 2 batters in 2 innings of work.

The Gyrene lineup ripped out 10 hits that included a 3 for 4 performance from Junior Brian Trymbiski, and a 3 for 5 effort from freshman shortstop Alex Sanchez. Leadoff hitter Gabe Loweree and pinch hitter Tom Bracht each smacked a double. The win jumped the Gyrenes over .500 with a 10-9 overall record.

On March 9th, AMU stomped all over Southeastern University at their home field in Lakeland. Ave Maria set a college record with an astonishing 27 hits in the 19-7 victory. Freshman Gabe Loweree from El Paso, Texas sparked a two run first inning with a single to left field. Tom Bracht walked to set the stage for Junior Brian Trymbiski who hit a single to center field to load the bases. Then, Pete Lesniewski smacked a single to the shortstop to score Loweree and put the Gyrenes ahead for the rest of the game. Alex Sanchez scored Bracht on a shot to center and the Gyrenes were up 2-0 after the first.

Later in the game the Gyrenes would score 8 runs in the fourth on 8 hits, and then another 6 runs in the ninth on 6 hits. Nine Ave Maria hitters had at least one hit in the game. Gabe Loweree: 5-5, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored; Tom Bracht: 4- 5, 5 RBI, 3 runs scored; Brian Trymbiski: 3-5, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored; Carlos Padron: 1-7, 2 RBI, 1 run scored; Pete Lesniewski: 4-6, 5 RBI, 1 run scored; Alex Sanchez: 5-6, 4 RBI, 1 run scored; Matt McKay: 2-5, 3 runs scored; Trace McDermott: 2-6, 2 runs scored; Travis Isensee: 1 RBI, 1 run scored.

Nolan Luyk earned the win for the Gyrenes to improve his record to 2-1.

The Gyrenes took their 3 game win streak to Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday, March 10th to challenge Sun Conference opponent Edward Waters College. Down by one run heading into the 5th inning, the Gyrenes scored 4 runs to go up 8-3. They later secured their fourth game in a row with a 13-10 final score. Clean up hitter, Carlos Padron went 3 for 6 with a double, a RBI, and 2 runs scored. Alex Sanchez went 2 for 5 with 3 runs batted in, Pete Lesniewski went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, and third baseman Trace McDermott launched his first homer of the season going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.  Leo Suarez (1-1) notched his first win of the year after 2.2 innings of work. He did not allow an earned run giving up just 1 hit.

AMU then headed north to Savannah, Georgia to face Sun Conference rival Savannah College of Art and Design in Friday and Saturday back to back doubleheaders.

On Friday, the Bees took the 10-0 win in game one before the Gyrenes stole the nightcap by score of 4-1.

SCAD took a 1-0 lead in game one on Shane Yoder’s sacrifice fly in the second inning. The Bees batted around in the third inning. Kelvin Goodson stroked a two-run single to right while Mike Hines added an RBI single to center and Yoder drove in another on a ground out.

The Bees pushed across a run in the fifth on a single from Matt Zajac before SCAD closed out the game early in the sixth with three more runs. Scott Shambaugh led off the inning with a homer while Hines and Yoder each drove in another run. Trace McDermott went a perfect 2 for 2 for the Gyrenes and Brian Trymbiski and Alex Sanchez each had a hit for AMU.

SCAD starter Brice Schlosser (2-2) earned the complete-game victory as he allowed just four hits and struck out three.

Ave Maria took a 3-0 lead with a three-run second inning in the nightcap off SCAD starter Nick Iuni (2-3). Chris Suchomski singled back up the middle to drive in the first two runs while Gabe Loweree added an RBI single to center. The Gyrenes added an unearned run in the fifth. Loweree, who is hitting .391 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, and 25 runs batted in, had 2 hits in the game.

Nolan Luyk earned the win for the Gyrenes while Tom Bracht earned the save with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out 3 SCAD hitters. Luyk gave up just 4 hits and 1 run in 4 2/3 innings.  

On Saturday, the Gyrenes were unable to push a run across against the Bees’ ace, Steven Shackleford. Justin James took the loss after pitching 6 innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks. The Gyrenes managed just 3 hits in the game. Loweree, Padron, and Sanchez each had one hit.  

AMU bounced back in game two with a 7-5 come from behind victory. SCAD took the lead in the bottom of the sixth 4-3 on a single by Will Cioffi, but the Gyrenes would answer with a four run seventh inning rally. Pete Lesniewski tied the game at 4 with a single through the left side and then took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Matt McKay. Trace McDermott and Cory Muren added back-to-back RBI singles to give the Gyrenes a 7-4 lead.

SCAD got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a throwing error, but that would be as close as they would get as Tom Bracht earned his second save in as many days. Chris Suchomski earned the win in relief for Ave Maria.