GULF SHORES, Ala.- The Ave Maria University softball team concluded their stay in Alabama on Sunday, playing their final two games at the Gulf Coast Invitational. The Gyrenes fell 10-1 to the No. 12 team in the nation, William Carey University, before dropping a narrow 4-2 decision to the Generals of LSU Alexandria in the tournament finale.
In the opener against William Carey, the Gyrenes led 1-0 through three and a half innings thanks to a run in the top of the first. Kalie Romig, who supplied AMU with two of their four hits and a pair of stolen bases, led off the game with a single and proceeded to steal second. After a groundout from Angela Cataldo moved Romig to third, Marisa Michi was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Michi got herself caught in a rundown on the next pitch, and Romig scored before the final out was recorded.
That lead held until the bottom of the fourth inning, when ten William Carey runs turned the game in the favor of the Crusaders. Runs were driven in during the frame by Anna Grace Cooley, Brooke Tanner, Mary Grace Turner, Maranda Busby, Susie LeBert, Megan Sexton and Kristenn Sexton, with Cooley and Tanner each driving in two runs in two trips to the plate. The Gyrenes would not score in the fifth inning against starting pitcher Haley Nations, bringing the game to an end.
Game two started with each team scoring a run in the first inning. LSU Alexandria leadoff hitter Atkins led off the game with a single, and scored after two bunts and an AMU error. In the bottom half of the inning, Ave Maria put together a two-out rally to answer. Angela Cataldo belted a triple to right center field, and then scored on an RBI single by Michi, her 19th RBI of the season.
The game remained 1-1 until the top of the fifth inning, when the Generals scored the three runs that would prove to be decisive. Singles from McNaughton and Atkins put runners on second and third with one out, and a successful bunt from Giddens gave LSUA a 2-1 lead. Atkins then scored on an extra throw from AMU, and Hughes added another bunt single to score Giddens, increasing the lead to 4-1.
Ave Maria got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, which proved to be their best chance at a rally. With one out, Christina Cataldo singled and stole second base. Gracie Lopez then drove her in with a single to right center, and the sophomore moved up to second on the throw to the plate. Romig walked to put runners on first and second with one out, but neither runner was able to advance any further.
After returning home to Southwest Florida, the Gyrenes will take the field again on Tuesday afternoon against the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph. The games are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. at the AMU Softball Field in Ave Maria.
