THOMASVILLE, Ga.- The Ave Maria University softball team fell in a conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, dropping two games to nationally ranked Thomas University. The No. 13 Night Hawks topped the Gyrenes 8-0 in the opener, and completed the sweep with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
Thomas held the Gyrenes to two hits, and scored in four of the final five innings to claim an 8-0 win in six innings in the first game.
The Night Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the second inning. All three runs came with two outs in the frame, following a flyout and a fielder's choice. An RBI single from Cameryn Herrera got Thomas on the board, and another single from Victoria Camina drove in the second run. An error provided Thomas their 3-0 edge.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the third inning, widening the Thomas lead to 5-0. Kelsey Connolly doubled to drive in Gaby Mora, who reached on an error. Connolly eventually scored on an error off the bat of Izzy Ekstam.
The shortened game was ensured by three more runs from Thomas, with two coming in the fifth and one more crossing the plate in the sixth. In the fifth inning, Michael Cooper hit a two-run home run, which also scored A.J. Weiss. Thomas ended the game in the sixth with an RBI single from Shelby Stephens.
Ave Maria's two hits in the opening game were supplied by Kalie Romig and Michella Davis, as Thomas' Lauren West earned the win in the circle.
In the second game, Ave Maria had an early 2-0 lead, but could not salvage a split in a 5-3 defeat.
AMU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a pair of hits to start the inning. Romig singled to lead off the frame, and Deanna Stirtzinger followed with an RBI double. Emma Thompson then drove in Stirtzinger on a bunt, which also saw Thompson reach safely.
The Night Hawks got one of the two runs back in the bottom half of the first. Kait Stoltz reached on a fielder's choice, and moved to third base on a steal and a Mora single. She then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Connolly.
After two scoreless innings, Thomas took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run triple with two outs from Taisa Kirindongo. The Night Hawks added an insurance run in the fifth inning on a passed ball to score Stoltz.
Both teams scored in the sixth inning to complete the scoring. Michella Davis belted a home run for the Gyrenes, while Stoltz drove in Kirindongo for the last Thomas run.
Ave Maria's trip north continues on Saturday, as the Gyrenes face another ranked opponent. AMU battles No. 17 USCB in South Carolina in a doubleheader, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
