AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team swept a nationally recognized team on Tuesday, winning two games against the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands. The Gyrenes won the opener 4-2, and walked off for a 5-4 win in nine innings in game two. The Gyrenes moved to 19-5 on the season with the wins over the Patriots, who entered the contest as one of the top 40 teams in the nation via their spot in the receiving votes category of the NAIA Coaches' Poll.

The Gyrenes never trailed in the opening game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Kalie Romig and Miriam Padgett started the frame with singles, and both players stole a base to put runners on second and third. A groundout off the bat of Angela Cataldo got Ave on the board, and a wild pitch scored Padgett from third to up the AMU lead to 2-0.

AMU's lead increased to 4-0 in the third inning, as what proved to be the two decisive runs crossed the plate. Cataldo started the inning with a bunt single, then stole second. After Kayla Martinez reached on an error and a groundout moved the runners to second and third, both Cataldo and Martinez scored on a grounder and an error off the bat of Mariah Melendez.

Cumberlands attempted to rally in the top of the sixth. A hit batsman, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for the Patriots with two outs. Tori Malone drove in both Madison Huber and Meryn Livingston with a single, putting the tying run on second base. Aylin Naranjo came on in the circle, and got the final out of the inning before Kassandra Clark slammed the door shut in the seventh.

Sarah Shepard was stellar over five innings in the circle, earning the victory following five shutout frames. The junior allowed just two hits while striking out five Patriot hitters. At the plate, Romig and Cataldo combined for five of the team's seven hits to lead the way.

In game two, Ave Maria again took the lead early with two runs in the bottom of the third. Abby Love started the inning with a walk,and moved around to third on a steal and a single from Romig. After Romig stole second, Love scored on a wild pitch. Cataldo then drove in Romig with a single to center, opening up a 2-0 lead.

Ave Maria added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, which would prove to be much needed. Pinch hitter Tatum Slate started the inning with a single, and was lifted for original starter Morgan Grimm. A walk to Martinez and a groundout put runners on second and third, and another groundout by Brooke Angerer drove in the run to increase the AMU lead to 3-0.

The Patriots erased the three-run deficit in the top of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. Cumberlands logged five singles in the top of the seventh, including an RBI single from Huber. An error off the bat of Katie Cheeseman scored two more runs, but an attempt to take the lead was thrown out at the plate by AMU left fielder Gracie Lopez.

Both teams scored in the eighth, which was played under international tiebreaker rules. The Patriots scored their run with back-to-back two-out singles, with the run driven in by Corinne Haverland. The Gyrenes answered with an RBI fielder's choice by Martinez, as Cataldo was able to beat out a throw home from the Patriot second baseman.

After Cumberlands was held scoreless in the top of the ninth, the Gyrenes played small ball to walk it off. Love, who was placed on second base to start the frame, moved up to third on a Paxton Hoop bunt. Sydney Rogowski came in as a pinch hitter for Romig, and laid down a perfect bunt on a squeeze play to score Love and win it for Ave Maria. 

Clark was the winning pitcher for the Gyrenes, picking up her tenth victory of the season. The freshman allowed just one earned run over her nine innings of work, and had a one-hitter entering the seventh inning. The lone Gyrene with multiple hits was Romig, who went 2-for-3.

Sun Conference play begins for the Gyrenes on Saturday, as the Seahawks of Keiser University come to town. First pitch at the AMU Softball Field is scheduled for noon.