Box Score AVE MARIA, Fla. – After claiming the first of a three game series yesterday, the Fire fell twice to the Gyrenes of Ave Maria today, 4-2 then 5-4.
The Gyrenes took an early lead in game one going up 3-0 in the bottom of the first on a single hit and a Fire error.
The Fire answered with one in the top of the second after an RBI single by Stetson McCollin scored Cody Hoffner who singled earlier in the inning.
The score remained 3-1 through the fifth until Willi Martin single handedly chipped away at the deficit with a two out solo home run in the sixth.
Josh Egert replaced Jordan Gard in the seventh and in the same inning gave up a hit and a run to put the Gyrenes up 4-2.
The Fire had two on with no outs in the top of the eighth but failed to capitalize after an unsuccessful steal attempt and two strikeouts left the runners stranded.
Gard suffered the loss on the mound and moved to 3-2. In six innings he gave up a single earned run on six hits and struck out four.
In game two, Clay Rideout and the Fire defense avoided a jam in the bottom of the first with a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning but were unable to score in the top of the second with bases loaded.
The Gyrenes took a 1-0 unearned advantage in the bottom of the second, then errors and runs were simultaneously evened at one with an unearned Fire run in the top of the third.
After a scoreless fourth inning, an RBI single in the fifth by Ricky DeArmas gave the Fire their first lead of the day, up 2-1.
The Fire maintained their one run advantage until the bottom of the sixth when the Gyrenes capitalized on a no out, bases loaded situation. They scored four runs on five hits and a Fire error to regain the lead, 5-2. Ryder Albright was called from the bullpen with two outs and gave up an RBI single before the third out.
A last chance effort in the top of the ninth put two more Fire runs on the board, but it wasn't enough to force the last half inning of baseball.
With his first loss of the season, Rideout moved to 4-1. In five and two thirds innings he gave up one earned run on eight hits and a walk and struck out two.
The Fire move to 23-13 on the season and 10-7 in TSC with the pair of losses today. They will travel to St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday to take on Eckerd College at 6 p.m.
