KISSIMMEE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team found two completely different ways to win on Monday afternoon, with victories over Bethel University and Spring Arbor University at the PFX Spring Games in Kissimmee. The Gyrenes cruised to a 14-2 win against Bethel in the opener, then pulled off the biggest AMU comeback in more than five years by scoring eight unanswered runs in an 8-5 win over Spring Arbor.

Ave Maria's offense started quickly, as the Gyrenes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. The runs scored on three consecutive hits - a single from Marisa Michi and back-to-back doubles from Ashley Nelson and Kayla Martinez.

After Bethel scored their lone run in the bottom of the first, the Gyrenes blew the game open with six runs in the top of the second. Paxton Hoop started the scoring with an RBI single down the right field line, and Angela Cataldo added three more runs with a double down the line with the bases loaded. A pinch-hit single from Aylin Naranjo put two more runs on the board, increasing the Ave Maria lead to 9-1.

In the final three innings, two freshmen hit their first career home runs to add to the AMU totals. In the third, Michi cleared the left field fence for her first home run, a two-run shot that padded Ave Maria's lead to 11-1. After an error pushed the lead to 12-1 in the fourth, Ryanne Saluter homered to center field in her first collegiate plate appearance, ending AMU's half of the scoring. 

Alissa Bolinger got her first collegiate start for the Gyrenes, and earned the win following a five inning complete game. Michi was the offensive standout for Ave Maria, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in. Cataldo also added two hits and three RBIs.

Game two saw Spring Arbor build a 5-0 lead over the first four innings, scoring one in the first, three in the second, and one in the fourth. A key element in the lead for SAU was Emma Hamp, who drove in three runs at the plate and worked four shutout innings in the circle.

All it took to erase that five-run deficit, something the Gyrenes had not done since February 2016, was one big inning. Miriam Padgett started the rally with a walk and a steal of second base. Christina Cataldo then singled, with an ensuing error allowing both her and Padgett to score, cutting the SAU lead to 5-2. A walk and a single put two more runners on, and another error sent Katelynn Sebastiani across, trimming it to 5-3. A third Spring Arbor error plated Kalie Romig, and Kayla Martinez gave AMU the lead with a two-run double with two outs in the frame.

Two more runs were added in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Gyrenes some breathing room. Romig led off with a walk, and proceeded to steal second and third base. Romig would score on an RBI groundout from Morgan Grimm, and pinch runner Mariah Melendez would come around to score on an RBI single from Michi, which would complete the scoring for the day.

Kassandra Clark entered the game in the third inning, and was brilliant in relief for the Gyrenes. The sophomore allowed just one earned run over five innings of work, and struck out five Spring Arbor hitters. In game two, the lone Gyrene hitter with two hits was Christina Cataldo, who singled in both of her at-bats off the bench. Padgett also reached base in all three of her plate appearances (two walks and a hit by pitch), upping her on-base percentage to an absurd .824 after six games.

With a 6-0 record for the first time in school history, the Gyrenes now head to Gulf Shores, Alabama for six games against some of the best teams in the nation. The trip begins Friday with games against sixth-ranked Columbia (Mo.) and Faulkner University. That doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.