CLERMONT, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team swept a doubleheader on Saturday, winning two games over the Point Park University Pioneers at the Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont. The Gyrenes used a late surge to claim a 7-5 victory in the first game, then rode a gem from freshman Kassandra Clark to a 4-0 triumph in the finale. The wins marked five victories in the last six games for Ave.

Point Park struck first in the opening game of the twinbill, pushing two runs across in the bottom of the first. Neither run was plated on a hit, as an RBI groundout from Alex Bondi and a fielder's choice off the bat of Cameron Meier allowed the Pioneers to take an early 2-0 lead.

AMU responded in the top of the third, evening the score at two. Paxton Hoop led off the inning with a bunt single, and moved to second with a steal. A Kalie Romig single and subsequent steal put runners on second and third. After a fielder's choice saw runners remain on second and third, sophomore Angela Cataldo doubled to bring Romig and Miriam Padgett home to tie the contest. 

Both teams would score a run in their next at-bat, keeping the score tied at three. Point Park's run came in on an RBI single from Bondi, while the Gyrenes answered with an RBI single from Hoop. Hoop's single drove in Aylin Naranjo, who started the frame with a double.

The biggest inning of the game for the Gyrenes came in the top of the fifth, when a four-spot gave Ave the lead for good. Romig and Padgett both singled and stole a base, and both runners would come home to score to increase the lead to 4-2. Mariah Melendez drove in another run with a single, and the final run of the inning was provided by Morgan Grimm, who made it 6-2 on a sacrifice fly. Point Park scored two runs in the seventh, but Ave Maria held on for their sixth consecutive win in the all-time series with the Pioneers.

Aylin Naranjo picked up the win in relief for the Gyrenes, tossing five innings without allowing an earned run. AMU's leaders at the plate were Romig, Padgett, and Hoop, who combined for six hits, four runs scored, and seven stolen bases.

In the second game, the Gyrenes never trailed, taking the lead in the third inning on another big hit by Cataldo. With Romig and Mia Gallegos on base, Cataldo put Ave Maria up 2-0 with a two-run single. Both runs were unearned to the Point Park starter, as Romig had reached on an error with two outs.

Two more runs crossed the plate for the Gyrenes in the fifth, adding some insurance. Melendez and Padgett started the inning with singles, and an RBI groundout from Romig allowed Melendez to score. Padgett scored the final run of the day thanks to a Point Park error.

Kassandra Clark posted the best outing of her collegiate career on Saturday, tossing a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts. Clark allowed only three hits, and earned her second victory of the season in the process. AMU's three hits in the victory were supplied by Cataldo, Padgett, and Melendez. 

The 5-3 Gyrenes will travel to Jacksonville for four games next week, with Edward Waters College and Trinity Baptist College as the opponents. Ave Maria will play Edward Waters on Tuesday, then will take on Trinity Baptist on Wednesday.