JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team moved to 12-3 on the season on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a doubleheader sweep at Trinity Baptist College. The Gyrenes rolled to victories of 11-2 and 9-5 to secure a four-game season sweep of the Eagles.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Gyrenes belted two home runs en route to an 11-2 victory over the Eagles. Ave Maria scored in five of game's six innings, and gave up runs in just one.

The Gyrenes opened up a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kalie Romig led off the game with an infield single, and proceeded to steal second and third base, and take home on a wild pitch. Deanna Stirtzinger, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a sacrifice bunt from Emma Thompson, who reached on the fielder's choice. AMU loaded the bases, and scored their third run on an RBI groundout from Genevieve Twigg.

Trinity Baptist pulled back within one run with two in the bottom of the second. Two Gyrene errors helped TBC push their runs across, with the RBIs coming from Dasia Shepherd and Lauren Lewis.

AMU's first of two home runs re-extended the lead to three in the top of the third. With one out and Abby Love on second base, Twigg drilled her first home run of the season over the left field wall, giving AMU a 5-2 edge.

Another home run was provided in the fourth inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Thompson drove in Romig, Michella Davis hit her first homer of the year to right field. Davis' roundtripper pushed Ave Maria's lead to 7-2.

Ave scored four runs in the final two innings to seal the early victory. Emily Acosta scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning, making AMU's lead 8-2. In the sixth inning, winning pitcher Brooke Pierron drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and Twigg finished a stellar five-RBI game with a two-run double.

In the nightcap, the Gyrenes again jumped out to a lead early on, and cruised to a 9-5 victory. The win marked the eighth win for Ave Maria in their last nine games.

Much like in the first game, the Gyrenes struck early, scoring three runs in the first. Romig scored the opening run after a Thompson single was misplayed in left field. Davis followed with an RBI double to right center field, and Pierron made it 3-0 on a bloop single.

The Gyrenes added four more runs in the third inning, three of which scored on an Eagle error. Thompson and Davis led off the inning with singles, and Pierron laid down a bunt. The attempt to throw Pierron out sailed well high, allowing Thompson, Davis, and Pierron to all score. Twigg added a one-out single, and pinch-runner Acosta came around to score on a wild pitch. 

Trinity Baptist used a two-out rally to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Courtney Byrd doubled, and Lewis followed with a single. After Lewis stole second base, Byrd scored the first Eagle run on an AMU throwing error off the bat of Kayla Bass. Heaven Crouse drove in two more runs for the Eagles, cutting the Gyrene lead to 7-3.

A good piece of baserunning increased Ave Maria's lead to 8-3 in the top of the fourth. Thompson hit a one-out single, her third hit of the game, and moved to third base when Pierron reached on an error with two outs. Thompson scored on a steal of home, induced when Pierron attempted to steal second. Pierron took both second and third on the play.

Ave Maria completed the scoring with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Stirtzinger drove in AMU's 20th and final run of the day with a sacrifice fly that brought in Twigg. TBC attempted to rally with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but could not complete the comeback.

Brianna Geiger pitched all seven innings for the Gyrenes, and did not allow an earned run in the win.

AMU's Spring Break road trip continues on Thursday after a day off on Wednesday. The Gyrenes will play a tripleheader in Titusville, Florida, beginning with a matchup against Rochester College and ending with two games against Shawnee State University. The first game of the day is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. ?