AVE MARIA, Fla. - The Ave Maria University softball team split a doubleheader with the Warner University Royals on Saturday afternoon, losing the opener 2-1 before claiming the finale by the same score. The split gave AMU a series win over Warner, who sits in first place in the Sun Conference standings.

In the opener, Warner hung on to a 2-1 victory powered by a two-run fifth inning. It was the second straight game in the series to be decided by scoring in the fifth frame.

Starting pitching was dominant for the first four innings, as Warner's Chelsie Valentine and Ave Maria's Brittney Pressler dueled. Each pitcher allowed just two hits through four innings, and neither allowed a run to score.

Warner struck for their first runs of the series in the top of the fifth. Tori Johnson hit a leadoff single, and a sacrifice bunt from Ashton Sparkman put her on second. Megan Hammett drove in Johnson with a single of her own, and Hammett then scored on a Caylin DeLones single, which proved to be the game-winner.

Ave Maria clawed back within one in the bottom of the sixth. Kalie Romig slapped a single to lead off the inning, and was bunted over to second by Marinna Shadley. After a flyout, Sadie Mosher drew a walk to extend the inning. Alyssa Colding then got the Gyrenes on the board with an RBI single, her 21st run batted in of the season. The Gyrenes couldn't tie the game, despite putting the tying run on second in the seventh thanks to a Deanna Stirtzinger leadoff single. Mosher was the lone Gyrene with two hits in the opener.

The nightcap saw Ave Maria score the decisive run in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim a 2-1 win over Warner, as well as a series victory.

An unearned run allowed Warner to take the early 1-0 advantage in the second game. Chantal Crockett reached on a Gyrene error, and was promptly brought home on a Jessica Adams double into the right center field gap. Sadie Mosher was able to escape further damage by striking out two hitters in the first.

The Gyrenes evened the score with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth. Michella Davis drew a walk, and Deanna Stirtzinger followed with a single. With runners on first and second, Brittney Pressler blooped a single down the right field line to score pinch runner Pookie del Pino, evening the score at 1.

AMU supplied the winning run in the bottom of the sixth with a clutch two-out hit. Sadie Mosher started the frame with a single up the middle, and replaced on first by pinch runner Brooke Pierron. A bunt with one out moved Pierron to second base. With two outs, Stirtzinger blooped a single into right center, scoring Pierron from second.

Mosher, who earned her 12th win, shut down the Royals in the seventh for the win. Mosher did not allow a hit after the first inning double.

For the final time in the regular season, the Gyrenes will be on the road next weekend against the Warriors of Webber International University. The Gyrenes will play one on Friday and two on Saturday before finishing the season with nine straight home games.