Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team earned a victory over NCAA Division II Lynn University on Tuesday, splitting a doubleheader with the Knights in Boca Raton. Lynn walked off in the opener to take a 7-6 victory, but the Gyrenes answered for their first win of the season, a 2-1 decision in the nightcap. 

In game one, the Gyrenes rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take the lead in the fifth inning, but eventually lost on a walk-off double by Lynn first baseman Sophia Devesa, 7-6.

Lynn struck first on Tuesday afternoon, pushing a run across in the bottom of the first inning. After the Gyrenes turned a double play to retire the first two batters of the frame, Kayla Sheffield walked, stole second, and then scored on an RBI single from Natalie Costero. 

The Fighting Knights expanded on their lead in the second, scoring three more runs to take a 4-0 lead. Devesa started the inning with a single, and was plated on a double from Elizabeth Diaz. Diaz then scored on Makayla Caballero's RBI single, and Caballero moved to third on an AMU error. The scoring in the second concluded when Caballero scored on a Gyrene wild pitch. 

AMU chipped into the Knights' lead in their next at-bat, putting together a two out rally in the top of the third to cut the Lynn lead to two runs. With two outs already on the board, Genevieve Twigg doubled to right field, and advanced to third on a single from Angela Cataldo. After a walk to Michella Davis loaded the bases, Brittany Blizzard got Ave Maria on the board with a double down the right field line, dropping Lynn's edge to 4-2.

Another run crossed the plate in the top of the fourth for the Gyrenes, thanks to a big hit with two outs for the second inning in a row. Kalie Romig, who had reached on a walk, stood on second base with two outs. Aylin Naranjo, who had entered in the circle for AMU, singled up the middle to score Romig from second, cutting the Knights lead to one run.

The Gyrenes scored for the third inning in a row in the top of the fifth, getting yet another big two out hit to take the lead for the first time. Ave Maria loaded the bases with one out on an error, a hit by pitch, and a single from Dariyen Varner. After a fielder's choice off the bat of Romig kept the bases loaded and added a second out, Naranjo stepped up to the plate and drilled a three-run double to right center, clearing the bases and giving AMU a 6-4 lead.

Lynn quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game at six. Sheffield singled with one out, and a double from Arenson brought the Knights within a run. With a throwing error moving her up to third base, Arenson then scored on an RBI single from Costero, evening the score at six.

Devesa's walkoff single came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, with Sheffield standing on third base after a walk, a groundout, and an AMU error. Sheffield scored the winning run on Devesa's single to left center field.

Game two saw Lynn again score in the bottom of the first inning, plating a lone run to take a 1-0 lead. From there, Brittany Blizzard completely shut down the Knights, tossing six shutout innings after the run in the first. The freshman scattered six hits and four walks in her complete game victory, leaving ten Lynn runners on base. Blizzard escaped each inning with a runner in scoring position, keeping the Gyrenes in position to rally late.

Ave's runs came in the top of the sixth inning, which started with a one out single from Twigg. Paxton Hoop, who was running for Twigg, moved to second base on a groundout. Blizzard then helped her own cause with a game-tying single, and moved up to second on the throw. After stealing third base, Blizzard proceeded to score the game-winning run on a wild pitch. In the seventh, Blizzard faced a first and second with one out situation, but escaped with a fielder's choice and a popout to secure the victory.

The Gyrenes return to action on Sunday, as AMU plays their first of four games at the PFX Spring Games in Clermont. Ave Maria will face off with Point Park University from Pennsylvania in a pair of games scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.