KISSIMMEE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team put together a blistering day on the basepaths on Sunday afternoon, as the Gyrenes stole 23 bases in a doubleheader sweep of the Pioneers of Point Park University. Ave Maria won both games in five innings, winning 10-2 in the first game and 9-1 in the nightcap to move their record to 4-0 on the season.

In game one, the Gyrenes scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the first. After a single from Kalie Romig, a walk to Paxton Hoop, and a double steal, junior Morgan Grimm singled to bring both runners in, giving AMU a 2-0 lead. Point Park answered for two runs in the bottom of the second, thanks to a two-run homer from Sydnie Reese.

Ave Maria took the lead for good in the third, scoring the first of eight unanswered runs to close the game. In the third, Romig would walk, then steal her third and fourth bases of the game to move to third. With no outs, Hoop drove in the first of her three runs in the opener with an RBI single. 

Five more runs were added in the top of the fourth, as the Gyrenes broke open the game. The first run was scored by Miriam Padgett following a Point Park error, and Hoop added two more runs with an RBI single that scored Abagail Love and Katelynn Sebastiani. The final strike was provided by Angela Cataldo, who hit AMU's second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field fence. AMU also added two more runs in the fifth on a Love double and an error, giving the Gyrenes the eight-run lead needed to end the game early. 

Sarah Shepard earned the win in the circle, pitching all five innings with just one hit allowed. After the Point Park homer in the second, Shepard retired the final ten hitters she faced. At the plate, Hoop led the way with a two singles and three RBIs. Cataldo, Padgett, Sebastiani, and Grimm also added two hits in the win. 

Game two saw Point Park score a run in the top of the first inning before the Gyrenes answered for four in the bottom of the second. Padgett started the action with a single and two stolen bases, and then scored on a double from Love, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles in the nightcap. Romig and Hoop added RBI singles, and the fourth run was plated on a throwing error from the Pioneers.

After another Pioneer error gave Ave Maria a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, the Gyrenes scored four more in the fifth to walk off with the victory. Padgett again started the action with a single and a steal of second base. The redshirt sophomore then stole third, and turned for the plate before the Pioneers could react. Hoop added two more runs on an RBI single, and Morgan Grimm brought the game to its conclusion with an RBI double.

Led by five stolen bases from Padgett - the highest total at AMU since the 2011 season - the Gyrenes stole 15 bases in the second game, setting a new school record. In the circle, Kassandra Clark did not allow an earned run in her second win of the season, striking out seven Point Park hitters.

Ave Maria heads back to Kissimmee on Monday afternoon for two games - one with Spring Arbor University and another with Bethel University from Indiana. The twinbill is set for a 2:30 p.m. start at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.