GULF SHORES, Ala.- The Ave Maria University softball team completed their run in the Gulf Coast Invitational on Sunday morning, as the Gyrenes fell 5-4 to the Wildcats of Bethel University. Ave Maria won four of their six games in Alabama this season, a marked improvement from the team's 1-5 mark in the event a year ago.
Ave Maria got on the board in their first trip to the plate, scoring two in the bottom of the first. Miriam Padgett walked and proceeded to steal second base. She was then driven in by Angela Cataldo, who singled to center field. The sophomore shortstop made it 2-0 after she scored from second base on a sacrifice fly from Kayla Martinez.
Bethel scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third to even the score. Bethel had runners on first and second after a single, an error, and a fielder's choice. After a successful double steal and an intentional walk, Macey Cox provided a two-run single to center to even the score at two.
The lead moved into Bethel's hands for the first time in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk drawn by Madison White and a single from Mackenzie Caldwell put runners on the corners with two outs for the Wildcats. Caldwell stole second base, and an errant throw from the Gyrenes allowed pinch runner Shelby Moore to score from third, giving Bethel a one-run lead, 3-2.
That 3-2 score remained until the Wildcats scored two much-needed insurance runs in the top of the seventh. With a runner on first after a hit batsman and a fielder's choice, Kayla Gillespie doubled down the left field line to score Cox. Gilliespie added Bethel's fifth and final run when she scored on an RBI single from White.
AMU nearly came all the way back in the bottom of the seventh, getting the tying run to third and the winning run to second. Christina Cataldo reached on an error, Mia Gallegos walked, and Paxton Hoop did the same to load the bases. Abby Love drove in the first run with a single, and Padgett added another RBI with a groundout. However, Bethel was able to escape the jam and leave Gulf Shores with the win.
Sarah Shepard returned to the circle for the Gyrenes, and did not allow an earned run in three solid innings of work. At the plate, Angela Cataldo was the leader, adding two hits, a run scored, and a run batted in to her season totals.
After returning home to Southwest Florida, the Gyrenes will prepare for a meeting with the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands. Cumberlands is currently receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. First pitch of Ave Maria's final doubleheader before conference play is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
