Tournament Central

CLERMONT, Fla. --- The Ave Maria softball team knocked off a third straight top-20 team on Friday afternoon, defeating top-seeded and 15th-ranked Southeastern, 3-1, to advance to the Championship of the double-elimination Sun Conference Tournament. The Blue and Green will take on the winner of the Southeastern and USCB/ERAU matchup at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Cheyenne Benson picked up her 12th win of the season in the circle, pitching seven innings of one-unearned run ball to secure the win. She allowed three hits and walked two while striking out four.
 
After four scoreless innings to start the game, Southeastern took a 1-0 lead when Susan Hinks reached base on a Lady Gyrene error to bring in Kaleigh Floyd in the bottom of the fifth.
 
It didn't take long for AMU to respond as the Lady Gyrenes scored three runs on four hits and one Fire error in the top of the sixth. After back-to-back hits by Hali Delashmet and Deanna Stirtzinger to begin the inning, Sarah Vinci reached on a Fire error to load the bases with no outs in the inning.
 
Pinch-hitter Emily Blackmore tied the game on 1-1 with a RBI single up the middle to bring in Delashmet. Kingsley Avery followed that up with a single to second base to bring in Stirtzinger and give the Lady Gyrenes a 2-1 lead. After a double play and a Benson intentional walk, Alyssa Colding drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the third Gyrene run.
 
Southeastern threatened in each of the last two innings but Benson and the Gyrene defense were able to get out of the jams unscathed.
 
Avery, Benson, Delashmet, and Stirtzinger each recorded multiple hits on the afternoon. In the circle, Benson held the top six batters in the Southeastern lineup to 1-for-19 at the plate.
 
The Blue and Green out hit Southeastern 10-3. AMU committed three errors compared to two by the Fire.
 
The Lady Gyrenes will take on the winner of the Southeastern and USCB/ERAU matchup at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Blue and Green will need to win one-of-two games tomorrow because of the double-elimination format. If needed, the if-necessary game will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The winner of the Sun Conference Tournament will earn an automatic bid into the NAIA National Championships.