MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team split their final doubleheader before the Easter break on Wednesday evening, winning one of two against the Bobcats of St. Thomas University. The Gyrenes clinched the season series with a 8-0 win in the nightcap, but could not lock up a season sweep following an 11-3 defeat in the nightcap.

Game 1 was scoreless through four innings of play, thanks to the efforts of the starting pitchers. Ave Maria's Sarah Shepard allowed just two hits over her first four innings in the circle, while St. Thomas' Larisa Smits left four runners in scoring position over the first four innings. However, Ave Maria was finally able to break the ice in the top of the fifth. 

AMU's top of the fifth began when Morgan Grimm reached on an error. Katelynn Sebastiani came on as a punch runner, moved up to second on a groundout, then scored on an RBI single from Paxton Hoop. The Gyrenes then loaded the bases on an Angela Cataldo single and a walk to Kayla Martinez. Marisa Michi brought in the second run with a bases loaded walk, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Miriam Padgett made it 3-0. Gracie Lopez brought in the final run of the inning with a two-out single.

The bats stayed active in the sixth inning, as Ave Maria's lead ballooned to 8-0. Grimm started the inning with a double, and scored on an error off the bat of Romig. After stealing third - her NAIA-best 39th steal of the season - Romig scored on another STU, increasing the lead to 6-0. The final two runs of the inning, and the game, were plated on a sacrifice fly from Kayla Martinez and a wild pitch that allowed Cataldo to score.

After working 4.1 shutout innings to earn the victory, Shepard exited for sophomore Kassandra Clark. Clark allowed just one hit over her 1.2 innings in the circle, and stranded the potential game-extending run on third base in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Cataldo was AMU's offensive leader in the opener, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Outfielders Padgett and Lopez each added two hits and one run batted in, while Hoop and Martinez both reached base twice in the victory.

In the second game, Ave Maria's hopes for a sweep looked promising after the Gyrenes took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Similar to the sixth inning of the opener, Grimm doubled and scored following an error off the bat of Romig. Romig moved around to third on the error, then scored on an RBI single from Hoop. Leading 2-0, back-to-back singles from Cataldo and Martinez supplied the third run.

St. Thomas' rally started with two runs in the bottom of the the third. The first four hitters of the inning reached, with singles from Eliza Artiles and Destiny Pacetti supplying the runs. Ave Maria was able to keep the lead intact for the time being, as starting pitcher Alissa Bolinger left runners on second and third by inducing a groundout. 

The Bobcats then scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth, turning a 3-2 Ave Maria lead into an 11-3 final score. Gabriella Gilbert and Kylie Casanova both drove in two runs during the nine run, nine hit rally, with a single from D. Daniela Bautista providing the final run.

Angela Cataldo followed up her three-hit performance in the opening game with two more hits in the nightcap, accounting for a 5-for-7 day at the plate. Hoop, Martinez, and Grimm added the other hits for the Gyrenes, with Hoop reaching base twice on a walk and a single.

After the Easter break, Ave Maria will play 14 of their final 18 games at home. That stretch begins on Wednesday, April 7, when the Gyrenes host the Warriors of Webber International University. First pitch at AMU is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.