BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team ended the 2021 Sun Conference season on a high note, winning a dramatic 6-4 decision over the Webber International University Warriors in the second game of a doubleheader in Babson Park. After a 6-1 win for Webber in the opener, the Gyrenes earned a split in the nightcap, which also dropped Webber from their spot alone at the top of the conference into a tie for first.
Webber scored the first six runs of the opening game, starting with two runs in the bottom of the second. The scoring started on a two-run single from Kelsea Friend, which scored Cassidy Roberts and Alyssa Rodriguez. The Warriors also added a run in the third inning, when Roberts scored on a dropped third strike with two outs in the inning.
Three more runs scored for Webber in the fourth and fifth innings, starting with one in the fourth, which scored on an RBI single from Victoria Atkinson. The Warriors concluded their half of the scoring in the bottom of the fifth when leadoff hitter Kaitlin Cockcroft drove in Friend and Rodriguez with an RBI single.
AMU avoided the shutout with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Angela Cataldo doubled with one out in the inning, and remained there following a strikeout. With two outs, Emma Thompson drove in Cataldo with a single to left, getting the Gyrenes on the board.
Cataldo was Ave Maria's top hitter in the opener, going 2-for-3 with the double. In addition to her sixth inning RBI, Thompson also reached base on a walk, making her the only other Gyrenes with two trips to first base.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the teams traded runs in the first inning. Kalie Romig led off the game by reaching on an error, then moved around to third with her 51st steal of the season and a foul out. With two outs, Thompson continued her hot hitting with an RBI single to right. Webber answered with an RBI double from Atkinson to score Cockcroft, who walked.
The Gyrenes would take the lead for good with two runs in the top of the third. Both runs scored with two outs, as Romig stood on third after reaching on an error, stealing second, and taking third on a bunt. Thompson added her third RBI of the day with a double, then scored herself on an RBI single from Miriam Padgett.
Ave Maria opened up their lead to 6-1 in the next inning, scoring three in the fourth. Alexis Clark started the inning with a single, and Brooke Angerer then reached on a bunt. After a bunt from Romig put runners on second and third, pinch runner Mia Gallegos would score on a wild pitch. Cataldo and Thompson then followed with back-to-back RBI singles, scoring pinch runners Mariah Melendez and Katelynn Sebastiani.
WIU attempted to rally in the top of the sixth inning. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Warriors with one out, with one runner scoring on a wild pitch and two more coming on a Cockcroft single. With the tying run at the plate, the Gyrenes escaped any further damage to take a 6-4 lead into the seventh.
A dramatic seventh inning saw the Warriors load the bases with one out. However, relief pitcher Ashley Nelson struck out Boyett with one out, then induced a grounder from Mills to keep Webber off the scoreboard in the final inning.
Kassandra Clark earned the win for the Gyrenes in the circle, pitching the first 5.1 innings of the contest before Nelson entered the game for the final 1.2 innings, earning the save. At the plate, Emma Thompson led the way with three hits and three runs batted in, while Cataldo, Padgett, and Alexis Clark chipped in with two hits each.
AMU completes the 2021 season with Senior Day on Saturday, when the Gyrenes take on the Conquistadors of Florida National University. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the AMU Softball Field.
