AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team claimed a victory over the nation's No. 14 team on Thursday, splitting a doubleheader with Thomas University. The Night Hawks took the opener by an 8-3 score, but the Gyrenes responded with a 5-3 win in the nightcap. 

In the first game, Ave Maria led into the seventh inning, but Thomas rallied with a seven-run seventh to claim an 8-3 win. 

After four scoreless innings of softball, the Gyrenes struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michella Davis led off the innings with a nine-pitch walk, and Brooke Pierron followed with a single up the middle. After a pair of popouts, Kalie Romig singled to load the bases. Deanna Stirtzinger cleared the bases on a flyball to left-center field, giving AMU a 3-0 lead through five innings.

Thomas got one run back against AMU starter Brianna Geiger in the top of the sixth inning. Kelsey Connolly led off with a single, and moved to third base following a fielder's choice and an error. With one out, a groundout from Corri Diaz got the Night Hawks on the board.

The Night Hawks' decisive seventh inning saw ten hitters come to the plate, bringing seven runs across the plate. Thomas hit three doubles, including two two-run efforts from Gaby Mora and Michael Cooper.

Ave Maria never trailed in the second game, and stranded 17 Thomas runners on base in a 5-3 victory over the nationally ranked Night Hawks. 

AMU got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Destinee Elmore drew a walk to lead off the action, and was moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. An error by the shortstop off the bat of Pierron gave Ave a 1-0 lead.

A run in the top of the fourth inning from Thomas tied the game at one. Taisa Kirindongo started the inning with a single, and came around to score on an AMU error. 

The second game's decisive inning favored Ave Maria in the bottom of the fifth inning. RBI doubles by Davis and Genevieve Twigg gave the Gyrenes a 4-1 lead, with Davis' double driving in two runs and Twigg bringing in another.

Both team scored in the sixth inning, keeping Ave Maria's lead at three runs. Mora drove in a run on an RBI single, while Pierron helped her own cause with a two-out single to drive in Elmore. Thomas got a run back in the top of the seventh, but left the bases loaded.

Pierron earned her 11th victory of the season with a gutsy performance. The junior left the bases loaded in five of the game's seven innings, leaving 17 total runners on base.

The Ave Maria softball season ends on Saturday, as the Gyrenes face Coastal Georgia in a Sun Conference doubleheader. First pitch in the opening game is scheduled for 11 a.m.