AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team split their doubleheader with the Concordia University Cardinals on Monday afternoon at the AMU Softball Field. The Gyrenes fell 9-5 in the opener, but were able to bounce back with a 1-0 win in the nightcap, thanks to a standout performance from senior Brooke Pierron.
Concordia jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the Gyrenes in the opener, scoring four runs in the first inning and one each in the third and fourth. The Cardinals' four-run first inning was powered by a double steal, an RBI single from Hannah Economou, and a two-run single from K. Hill. An RBI groundout from M. Hinkle increased Concordia's lead in the third, and Economou drove in her second run of the game with a single in the fourth.
Ave Maria got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two runs to pull within four of the Cardinals. Genevieve Twigg led off the inning with a single, and was replaced with pinch-runner Morgan Grimm after a sacrifice bunt. Pierron then doubled to plate Grimm, and Pierron was able to score on an error off the bat of Paxton Hoop.
The Cardinals again boosted their lead in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to take a 9-2 lead. A two-run double from L. Reichel gave the Cardinals their runs in the fifth inning, and the Concordia scoring on the contest was concluded on an error in the top of the sixth.
An attempted rally from the Gyrenes came in the sixth inning, when AMU scored three runs to threaten the Cardinals. Emma Thompson led off the inning with a triple, and promptly scored on a single from Pierron. After an error and a flyout, Pierron and Sydney Rogowski both scored on a Mariah Melendez single, providing the final 9-5 outcome.
In the nightcap, the lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. Angela Cataldo, who recorded all three of Ave Maria's hits, singled and advanced to third base on an error from the Cardinals. With one out in the inning, Michella Davis put down a bunt that scored Cataldo, giving AMU a 1-0 lead that would last for the remainder of the contest.
One run was all that was needed for Pierron, who tossed a complete game shutout. Pierron scattered seven hits and a walk over her seven innings, striking out three hitters. In four of the seven innings, the senior left a Concordia runner in scoring position, including leaving runners on second and third in the fifth inning.
Ave Maria returns to Sun Conference play on Wednesday, when the Gyrenes travel to Miami Gardens to take on St. Thomas University. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Bobcats is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
