Alex Sanchez was 3 for 3 in Game 1, and batted in an important run in Game 2. The quick handed, freshman shortstop is hitting .311 and is fourth on the team with 21 runs batted in.

The Ave Maria University Baseball Team swept Clearwater Christian College on Saturday with scores of 9-4 and 4-2. With the sweep, the Gyrenes improved to 20-21 overall and have a chance to go above .500 with four games left in the season.

On Tuesday, AMU heads to Lake Wales, Florida to take on a tough Warner University baseball team. Warner is receiving votes in the latest Top 25 NAIA National Poll. AMU opened the inaugural season versus Warner and lost 9-5. The Gyrenes look to even the record Tuesday. The game is set for a 4 p.m. start.

In Saturday's Game 1 at Clearwater Christian the Gyrenes were hungry for a win having lost their two previous games to Southeastern University. The Gyrenes erupted for 6 runs in the second inning and won the game 9-4. Clearwater was unable to score off AMU starting pitcher Stephen Ori (3-5) until the fifth inning. Ori, a junior out of Texas, had a quality start allowing 3 runs on just 2 hits through 4 2/3 innings. Clearwater would score an unearned run in the final inning off reliever Nolan Luyk, but it wouldn't be enough as the Gyrene offense produced 11 hits and 9 runs.

Several players had hits for the Gyrenes: Travis Isensee - 1-4, 2B, 1 RBI; Tom Bracht - 1-3, 1 RBI; Brian Trymbiski - 2-4, 1 RBI; Carlos Padron - 2-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI; Alex Sanchez - 3-3; Trace McDermott - 2-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI. 

The Gyrenes took Game 2 by score of 4-2 behind a solid pitching effort from sophomore starting pitcher Justin James. James gave up just 1 earned run, and allowed just 4 hits in the complete game win. He struck out 7 batters and currently leads the AMU staff with 70 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. James has limited opponents to a team-leading .215 batting average. He improved his record to 5-3 with his eighth complete game of the season.  

The Gyrene hitters were in for a battle in Game 2 as Clearwater Christian's starting pitcher allowed just 5 hits in seven innings with 8 strikeouts. AMU was down 1-0 after the first inning, but answered with a run of their own in the second inning. Carlos Padron led off the second inning with a single to left field. Clearwater got Pete Lesniewski to strike out, but Gabe Loweree then doubled to left field moving Padron to third base. AMU's shortstop Alex Sanchez put the ball in play to first base to get the RBI as Padron came in to score. The game remained tied until the sixth inning when AMU pushed two more runs across home plate. AMU scored a run in the seventh inning to put themselves ahead for good.

Gabe Loweree's double in the second inning puts him at a team-best 16 doubles this season. Loweree, a versatile player who catches and can play many defensive positions for AMU, is leading the team with a .362 batting average. In 40 games played, Loweree has scored 25 times with 16 doubles, 3 triples, a homerun, and 31 runs batted in. He has stolen seven bases in eight attempts.

AMU's five hits in Game 2 came from Travis Isensee, Carlos Padron, Gabe Loweree, Trace McDermott, and Cody Muren. The Gyrenes are batting .301 with a .389 on base percentage as a team.