MIAMI SHORES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday night to earn a split of their doubleheader with the Knights of Queens College. The Gyrenes lost the opener in eight innings, 5-4, but scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 4-3 win in the nightcap. Tuesday night's games were played on the campus of Barry University in Miami Shores.

The Gyrenes jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first game, scoring three runs in the first inning and another in the third. In the first inning, Ave got two runners aboard on singles from Kalie Romig and Dariyen Varner. With the runners on second and third with one out, Michella Davis drove in both Romig and Varner with a two-run single to left field. 

Davis then added her third RBI of the day in the top of the third, belting her third home run of the season. The solo shot was Davis' tenth career home run, making her the third Gyrene in school history with ten or more homers.

Queens started to rally in the bottom of the third, scoring one in the third, two in the fifth, and one in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Noelle Bryggman drove in runs with RBI singles in the third, fifth and seventh, while the other Knight run was plated on an error.

After an unassisted double play from Emma Thompson ended the seventh and forced extra innings, Queens claimed the win in the bottom of the eighth inning with a game-winning single from Katherine Gallagher.

Game two saw the Knights lead 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Queens scored twice in the fourth on an RBI double from Sharina Nazario and a single from Danielle D'Angelo. They also scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a Gyrene error in left field.

Ave Maria's first run of the nightcap crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Romig started the frame with a single, and moved up to second on her 16th stolen base of the season. The junior then scored when Aylin Naranjo hit a hard line drive that carromed off the third baseman's glove, allowing Romig to score from second.

AMU's seventh inning comeback came entirely with two outs, and started when Angela Cataldo singled up the middle. Abby Love then doubled to left center field, scoring Cataldo and pulling the Gyrenes within one run. Romig tied the game on an infield single, as Love was able to beat Queens' throw home. The Gyrenes walked off with the victory when Genevieve Twigg hit a pop-up to shallow left field that saw two Knights collide and the ball drop to the field.

In the victory, Naranjo picked up her second win following seven strong innings of work. The freshman struck out a career-best five hitters, and allowed just two earned runs in the complete game win. At the plate, Cataldo went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot, and Romig went 2-for-2 off the bench.

Sun Conference play begins for Ave Maria on Thursday, when newly-minted top 15 team USCB comes to the AMU Softball Field. First pitch of the Gyrenes' conference opener is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Ave Maria.