AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University softball team split a crucial doubleheader with the Southeastern University Fire on Wednesday afternoon, losing the opener 3-2 but claiming the nightcap 1-0. The split kept both teams one game back of Sun Conference leader Warner with four games to play.
 
Ave Maria was plagued by five errors in the opening game of the doubleheader, and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Fire. AMU starter Sadie Mosher allowed only one hit and did not surrender an earned run, but was charged with the loss. The Gyrenes outhit Southeastern 7-1 in the losing effort.
 
The two teams traded runs in the fourth inning, beginning with a Southeastern score aided by two Gyrene errors. Cheyenne Blaha reached for the second time on an error, and was on second base with two outs. She was able to score on a throwing error off the bat of Brandee Pietrzak.
 
Ave Maria answered in the bottom half, which started with a triple down the right field line by Marinna Shadley. She then tied the game by crossing the plate on a fielding error committed by the Fire.
 
Southeastern got the decisive runs in the top of the sixth inning. The offense came entirely with two outs, and started with a walk drawn by Blaha. Kiah Ferrell then reached on a fielder's choice that was misplayed by AMU, allowing Blaha to take second. Pietrzak hit an infield single, and the fifth Ave error off the game allowed both runners to score, giving the Fire a two-run lead.
 
The Gyrenes got a run back in the bottom of the sixth. Shadley started the inning with a single, and was moved to third base on consecutive groundouts. A Deanna Stirtzinger single pushed Shadley across the plate to pull the Gyrenes within one run. Paige Aldred singled and Marissa Conde was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but AMU was unable to plate the tying or go-ahead run.
 
In the second game, the Gyrenes only needed one run to back up starting pitcher Brittney Pressler, grabbing a 1-0 victory.
 
AMU struck first, plating a run in their first trip to the plate. Sadie Mosher drew a walk with two outs, and came around to score on a double from Alyssa Colding. Colding's double was one of just two Ave Maria hits.
 
From there, it was a pitcher's duel between AMU's Brittney Pressler and Southeastern's Stef Guercio. Pressler allowed just four Southeastern hits, tossing her fourth shutout of the season. Southeastern's best chance at a run came in the top of the sixth inning, Hannah Smith was waived home after a Kiah Ferrell single, but Ave Maria left fielder Deanna Stirtzinger threw her out at the plate to preserve the lead.
 
Mosher, Colding, and Paige Aldred each reached base in each of their three plate appearances, going a combined 2-for-2 with four walks and three hit by pitches.
 
The split sets up a crucial series finale Thursday at Ave Maria. The teams will play a conference game at 1 p.m., with a 3 p.m. game following that will not count in the conference standings.