Baseball Sweeps Thomas to Close Florida Trip, Tosses No-Hitter in Game Two

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Anna Maria College closed out its Florida road trip with a sweep in a doubleheader against Thomas College. With the win, the AMCATS conclude Florida play with a 5-3 record.

GAME ONE: Anna Maria 12, Thomas 2

Thomas did all of its scoring in the bottom of the second, taking a short-lived 2-0 lead. Brady Aylward jump-started the AMCATS' offense at the top of the third, lasering an RBI double down the left field line to score a runner from third and get Anna Maria on the board. Jonathan Guardascione then drove in a pair of runs off a single, followed by an error by Thomas to put the AMCATS on top 3-2.

Aylward kept the pressure on in the top of the fourth inning, driving in a pair of runs off a single down the third base line, followed by a two RBI double down the left field line by Josh Batchelder to extend Anna Maria's advantage to 7-2.

The offense exploded in the fifth, with Aylward delivering once again, this time a double down the left field line that drove in a pair of runners. Guardascione drove in a run on a groundout, while Aylward scored on an error by the shortstop to give the AMCATS an 11-2 lead.

Aylward capped off a spectacular performance, giving the game its final score of 12-2 with his sixth RBI of the game, going 4-for-5 from the batter's box, with six RBIs, three runs scored, and a pair of doubles.

Sean O'Hara earned the win, pitching three innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out three batters. Francesco De Vivo and Sean Christiansen pitched in relief, allowing zero runs, combining for two Ks and just three hits over four innings.

GAME TWO: Anna Maria 8, Thomas 4

The AMCATS brought the same energy to game two, with four pitchers combining for a no-hitter to earn their second win of the day. Dylan Salazar earned the win in the start, striking out four batters with just one earned run, with Aiden Mroz, Jacob Gluchacki, and Conor Francesconi pitching in relief, combining for two earned runs and four Ks.

Aylward also carried his first game performance to game two, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs, three scored, and a double. Guardascione finished going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Aylward started the first inning with a two-run double down the left field line, later scoring on a wild pitch to go up 3-0 after one inning of play.

The AMCATS put another two runs on the board in the bottom of the first, with Jaiden Driscoll driving in a run on an RBI groundout. Avery Acuna later scored on a wild pitch to put the AMCATS ahead 6-2.

Anna Maria added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth with Aylward scoring on an error by the second baseman and Brayden Wright driving in the final run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

With today's doubleheader, the AMCATS conclude Florida competition, returning home for a game against New England College on Wednesday, March 11th, beginning at 3 p.m.

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