AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team started the Sun Conference slate with a pair of victories on Wednesday afternoon. The Gyrenes topped St. Thomas University in a doubleheader with wins of 3-1 and 6-2. The victories marked five consecutive triumphs for AMU over STU dating back to last season.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, Ave Maria never looked back following a four-run first inning, cruising to a 6-2 victory over the Bobcats. The Gyrenes outhit St. Thomas 10-3 in the victory.
AMU's four-run first inning began with a single from Kalie Romig and a hit by pitch to Deanna Stirtzinger. After a double steal and a strikeout, a squeeze from Michella Davis got the Gyrenes on the board on a fielder's choice. Genna Twigg and Brooke Pierron added RBI singles, and Ave Maria closed their first inning scoring on a first-and-third play that scored Twigg.
The Gyrenes increased the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Destinee Elmore singled on a bunt with one out, and moved to third base on a steal and a Romig single. With Elmore on third and Romig on first, the Gyrenes executed another double steal that allowed the sophomore to score, and moved Romig to second base.
St. Thomas got their first run in the top of the third inning. An error put Dayma Pla on second base, and a sacrifice bunt moved her to third. Pla scored on an RBI single from Melody Grafals, which pulled the Bobcats within four runs at 5-1.
Ave Maria and St. Thomas concluded the game's scoring in the fifth, with each team scoring a run. Another unearned run was plated by the Bobcats, as Michelle Murch scored on an Alexis Spellman single after reaching on an error. In the bottom half, Twigg drove in her second run of the day with an RBI double, which scored Davis.
Brianna Geiger earned the victory in the circle, and did not allow an earned run in her seven innings of work. Pierron led the Gyrenes at the plate with a 3-for-3 effort.
The Gyrenes got enough offense in the nightcap to complete the sweep, claiming a 3-1 victory over the Bobcats. Each team recorded five hits in the contest, with the Gyrenes committing all three errors made in the game.
A run in the bottom of the first inning gave the Gyrenes a lead that would never be relinquished. Romig walked to start the game, and a bunt from Stirtzinger moved the leadoff hitter to third base. Twigg then drove in her third run of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Ave extended their lead to three runs in the bottom of the third. Stirtzinger drove in Elmore and Jessica Chavez, who had both reached on singles, with a single of her own. Stirtzinger's bases loaded single proved to be the final run of the day for the Gyrenes. Chavez was the lone Gyrene to record two hits in the second game.
St. Thomas attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, getting a run on an RBI single from Alysha Coyle. Coyle was caught trying to go to second for the second out of the inning, and the Gyrenes closed it out from there.
Pierron worked seven innings without allowing an earned run, and moved to 7-1 on the season with her win in the circle.
AMU's Sun Conference schedule continues on Saturday with the first road doubleheader of the conference season. The Gyrenes will travel to Lake Wales for a doubleheader with No. 24 Warner, which is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start.
