AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team blasted their way past the Edward Waters College Tigers on Saturday afternoon, rolling to run-rule victories of 8-0 and 14-1 at the AMU Softball Field. The Gyrenes swept the 2019 NAIA National Tournament qualifiers with a mixture of stellar pitching and consistent hitting.
After scoring just four runs in 14 innings in their first doubleheader of the season, the Gyrenes wasted no time in getting on the board on Saturday. AMU scored their first two runs on an RBI single from Brittany Blizzard, who then raced around the bases thanks to an Edward Waters error. With the bases empty and two outs, Angela Cataldo singled on a bunt, stole second, then scored on an RBI single by Dariyen Varner.
One swing of the bat, coupled with an Edward Waters miscue, extended the Gyrene lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. Kayla Martinez crushed a triple to deep left field, as the freshman sailed her shot well over the outfielder's head. Martinez then took advantage of an errant throw from the Tigers, scoring to give Ave a 4-0 lead.
The Gyrenes broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth, and scored the four runs that would end the game due to the NAIA run rule. AMU had runners on second and third following a walk to Morgan Grimm and a single by Paxton Hoop. Kalie Romig drove in both Hoop and runner Gracie Lopez with a single, extending the lead to 6-0. After Miriam Padgett was hit by a pitch, Blizzard ended the game with a two-run double down the left field line.
Sarah Shepard tossed a complete game shutout for the Gyrenes, striking out four over six scoreless innings. Shepard allowed just one walk, and scattered five hits. At the plate, Blizzard had two hits and three runs batted in, while Romig logged two hits, two runs scored, and two more batted in.
Once again, the Gyrenes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Romig led off with a single, and proceeded to steal second and third base. Varner drew a walk, and Blizzard followed with an RBI double to put AMU on the board. Two more runs crossed the plate with one out when a bunt from Angela Cataldo allowed both Blizzard to Varner to score, with an error accounting for the final run.
The offensive onslaught continued with two more runs in the bottom of the second. Paxton Hoop started the inning with a single, and Abby Love followed with one of her own. Sydney Rogowski plated one run with an RBI groundout, and Romig extended the lead to 3-0 with a single.
Edward Waters scored one run in the top of the third, but Ave answered with nine runs to completely put the contest out of reach. In the nine-run frame, RBIs were provided by Mariah Melendez, Love, Rogowski, and Cataldo, with Melendez driving in two runners for the first and last runs of the frame.
Blizzard earned the win in the circle, allowing just one run over her three innings. Kassandra Clark was excellent out of the bullpen, working two scoreless innings while logging four of her six outs via strikeout. At the plate, Melendez, Cataldo, and Rogowski all drove in two runs, while Romig, Martinez, Melendez, and Love all had two hits.
Ave Maria's next home date is an exhibition doubleheader against Pasco-Hernando State College on Thursday. First pitch in Ave Maria is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
