TAMPA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria softball team split on their opening day of the NAIA Preview in Tampa. The Blue and Green defeated Point 8-2 in game one before falling to Middle Georgia 3-2 in the nightcap.
 
Points struck first in game one on a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first. The Lady Gyrenes responded in the bottom of the second with four runs on five hits and one point error.
 
Marissa Conde drove in the first run for the Lady Gyrenes on a RBI single to plate Deanna Stirtzinger. Later in the inning, McKayla Jeter brought in Paige Aldred on an RBI groundout followed by a two-RBI single by Marinna Shadley to make it 4-2.
 
The Blue and Green added a run in the fifth on an Alyssa Colding RBI single to drive in Shadley. AMU added three more insurance runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single by Shadley and a RBI double by Colding.
 
Seven Lady Gyrenes' finished with hits in game one. Shadley led the way with three hits, four RBI, and two runs. Sadie Mosher, Colding, and Pookie Del Pino each finished with two hits.
 
Mosher picked up the win for AMU, going seven innings and allowing two runs. She struck out five while walking four and allowing five hits.
 
In game two, AMU went ahead of Middle Georgia in the top of the third on a Mosher RBI groundout to plate Del Pino. The Knights came back with three in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead on the Lady Gyrenes. AMU cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth when Brittney Pressler scored on a wild pitch.
 
Shadley, Genevieve Twigg, and Pressler each recorded multiple hits in game two.
 
Pressler took the loss in game two. She allowed three runs on three hits and one walk. She struck out 11 on the night.
 
Ave Maria returns to action with three games tomorrow. AMU starts the day against Cumberland University at 10 am followed by a matchup with Edward Waters at noon. AMU concludes the day against Indiana Tech at 5 p.m.