BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team dropped a pair of close contests on Wednesday afternoon, losing both ends of a doubleheader to the Webber International University Warriors. Webber held the Gyrenes to three hits in a 2-0 win in the opener, and rallied for a 10-7 victory in the nightcap.

Runs in the second and fourth innings propelled the Warriors to the victory in the first game, a 2-0 triumph for the hosts. Both pitchers went the distance in the opener, allowing just two runs on nine hits between them.

Webber took their first and only neccesary lead in the bottom of the second inning. Two singles sandwiched a sacrifice bunt, placing Warrior runners on the corners with one out. After Borders stole second base, Rolfe drove in LoCascio with a sacrifice fly, giving Webber a 1-0 lead. 

The next run crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning, providing Webber their second and final run. Rolfe reached on a fielder's choice with one out, and was moved to second base on a groundout from Navarro. With two outs, Bullard singled down the right field line, scoring Rolfe and ending the scoring on the day.

Ave Maria's had chances to score in each of the first two innings, loading the bases with two outs, but could not push across a run while the game was still scoreless. The three Gyrene hits were provided by Deanna Stirtzinger, Michella Davis, and Brooke Pierron.

In the second game, Ave Maria held leads of 3-0 and 6-3, but were done in by a seven-run sixth innings by the Warriors in a 10-7 decision.

A two-out rally helped the Gyrenes take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With Stirtzinger on first with two outs, Genevieve Twigg reached on an error and Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Abby Love then capitalized on the error with a three-run double down the left field line, giving the Gyrenes their first lead of the doubleheader. Love was stranded on third after stealing the base.

Webber responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. Back-to-back singles from Bullard and Rodriguez put runners on second and third, and Atkinson drove in both runners with a single to center field. Rodriguez scored two batters later on an RBI single from Roberts.

The Gyrenes reclaimed the lead thanks to another three-spot in the top of the fourth. A bunt single from Pierron led off the inning, and a sacrifice and a single from Destinee Elmore moved Pierron to third. Kalie Romig drove in Pierron with a single, and a fielder's choice from Stirtzinger drove in Elmore. After Stirtzinger stole second base, a bunt from Emma Thompson drove in Romig for the third Gyrene run of the inning.

Wednesday's biggest inning was provided by the Warriors. Webber's seven-run inning was powered by RBI singles from Roberts, LoCascio, Moye, Bullard, and Roberts, as well as an RBI fielder's choice from Riggleman.

AMU got one run back in the top of the seventh, but could not complete the comeback. 
Twigg led off the inning with a single, and pinch runner Emily Acosta came around to score on an RBI single from Pierron.

All four of Ave Maria's final games of the season will be at home. The Gyrenes will host No. 14 Thomas University next Thursday for a doubleheader, and will finish the season against Coastal Georgia on Saturday, April 28. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for an 11 a.m. start time.