AVE MARIA, Fla. | Florida Memorial struggled to find its footing, as they fell in both doubleheader games to Ave Maria 17-5 in game one, followed by a 10-6 loss in game two.

Game One:
FMU 5 - AMU 17

Similar to the opening two games, Ave Maria opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch in the top of the second scored first baseman Reinaldo Prieto, followed by a passed ball that scored senior Raymond Rivera for the game-tying second run. Catcher Alejandro Fernandez hit an RBI single that scored Luis Ruiz in the top of the third to give FMU the 3-2 lead.

The Gyrenes answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead at 6-3. A scoreless fourth inning was followed by a 10-run inning for the Gyrenes as their lead ballooned to 16-3 after five innings. Ivan Zambrano scored third baseman Ernie Farrell in the top of the sixth to chip away at the lead, but Ave Maria answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to expand the lead back to 13 runs. Rivera hit an RBI single that scored junior Pheron Charlton but time ran out as the Lions were handed their largest loss of the season 17-5.

Senior Kyle Morrison (2-3), was credited with the loss, allowing six hits, six runs, and three walks in four innings while striking out four Gyrenes. Junior Juan Anderson was next in line, allowing two hits, seven runs, and four walks in less than one inning. Hialeah Gardens native Jerryk Caceras finished on the mound for the Lions and in 1.2 innings pitched allowed two hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out two Gyrenes.

Game Two:
FMU 6 - AMU 10

Following the Gyrenes scoring the first run of the game in the bottom of the second, Charlton had a sacrifice RBI that scored Rivera for the game-tying run in the top of the third. FMU continued scoring, with senior Genesis Nunez, followed by senior Nathan Harris hitting a home run in the top of the fourth to extend FMU's lead to 3-1. 

Ave Maria answered with a home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a one-run game, but Charlton opened the lead again in the top of the sixth, with a two-RBI home run that brought home shortstop Marco Medina to give the Lions a 5-2 lead. The Gyrenes erased the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, before putting together a seven-run inning in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead at 10-5. Junior Gianni Tusa scored for the Lions off an error, but the Lions could not make up the deficit as they dropped the final game of the series 10-6, handing them the series defeat.

Miami native William Hiciano started on the mound for the Lions and in six innings allowed four hits, four runs, and five walks while striking out one Gyrene. Freshman Jonah Guinto (0-1), was credited with the loss allowing one hit, two runs, and one walk. 

Junior Kelvin Feliciano came in relief allowing two hits and three runs during his time on the mound. Jamal Johnson was next in line and in one inning pitched allowed two hits and one run while striking out two Gyrenes. Junior Stephen West finished pitching duties for FMU and in one inning struck out two Gyrenes.

The sweep drops Florida Memorial to 15-9 on the season and 4-4 in conference play.

The Lions return to action Thursday, March 28, where they'll travel to Lake Wales, Fla. to take on Warner. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. for game one of the series.