AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team completed their 2021 season on Saturday afternoon, falling twice to the Conquistadors of Florida National University at the AMU Softball Field. The Gyrenes lost a ten-inning nailbiter in the opener, 7-5, then dropped a 7-0 decision in the final game of the season.
Florida National jumped on the board in the top of the first, scoring two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Singles from Nini Underwood and Megen Johnson, as well as two groundouts, putting runners on second and third with two outs. Natasha Trujillo drove in both runners with a bloop single down the right field line, giving the Conquistadors an early lead.
AMU got a run back in the bottom of the second, cutting the FNU lead to 2-1. Miriam Padgett did much of the work, drawing a walk then stealing both second and third base. With one out, Morgan Grimm laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Padgett to score Ave Maria's first run of the day.
That 2-1 score remained until the bottom of the seventh, when AMU came up with a clutch hit to send the game to extras. Marisa Michi led off the frame with a single, and pinch runner Annie Nudera was bunted to second by Padgett. After a grounder by Alexis Clark moved Nudera to third, Grimm tied the game with a single to the left side of the infield.
The first extra inning saw both teams score one run. A sacrifice fly from Underwood scored FNU's run in the top half. In the bottom of the inning, Angela Cataldo came through with two outs, hitting a single to right field to score Mia Gallegos from third, sending the game to the ninth.
Again in the ninth, the teams traded runs. FNU scored again on a sacrifice fly, as Trujillo drove in Johnson. Michi tied the game with a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch runner Mariah Melendez was doubled off of second on a flyout from Padgett, ending what proved to be AMU's best shot to walk off.
FNU took control of the game with three runs in the top of the tenth. An error on a bunt put the Conquistadors up by a run, with an RBI single from Gabryella Hay and a double from Johnson extending the lead to 7-4. AMU did get a run back in the bottom half and put the tying run on first, but could not completely rally.
In her final game at Ave Maria, Sarah Shepard had her longest outing, pitching 9.2 innings for the Gyrenes. The senior allowed just two earned runs over those 9.2 innings, and struck out four. The offense was led by Romig and Michi, who both had two hits.
The Conquistors also started off the second game of the doubleheader with two runs in the top of the first. FNU loaded the bases on two walks and a single, and initially took the lead on a single by Brandi Kirkpatrick. Megan Ehrlich was then hit by a pitch, bringing in the second run of the inning.
Three more runs crossed the plate in the top of the second. The Conquistadors loaded the bases again, this time on two singles and a hit by pitch. With one out, Gabriella Oliveira drove in the first two runners with a single, and Trujillo added an RBI single of her own to make it 5-0.
After four scoreless innings from the third to the sixth, Florida National concluded the scoring with two runs in the seventh. Both runs were unearned, as the leadoff hitter of the inning reached on an error. FNU's runs in the inning scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Maria Imhoff.
Kassandra Clark came on in relief for the Gyrenes, and was excellent in her final appearance of the season. The sophomore tossed 5.1 innings without allowing an earned run, and struck out four FNU hitters. The final out was recorded by freshman Marina Johnson, who made her collegiate debut and got a strikeout to end the top of the seventh.
Prior to the games, the Gyrenes honored the six graduating members of the Class of 2021. Kalie Romig, Abagail Love, Sarah Shepard, Emma Thompson, Angela Cataldo, and Mia Gallegos were recognized for their contributions to the AMU softball program during their careers.
