AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team started the 2022 season with a statement on Friday afternoon, winning the first game of the season, 1-0, over the number ten team in the nation, the Tigers of Campbellsville University. The 1-0 win was led by a masterpiece from Alissa Bolinger, who shut down one of the most potent offenses in the NAIA. Campbellsville did force a split of the doubleheader with a 10-7 win in the nightcap.

As the Opening Day starter for the Gyrenes, Bolinger was nearly unhittable for the Gyrenes. The freshman struck out a career-best six hitters, and scattered just five baserunners in her seven innings - three walks, one single, and one double. Campbellsville never got a runner to third base, and only two of the five baserunners got to scoring position. 

Bolinger was matched for the first four innings by Campbellsville starter Katy Chadwell, until the Gyrenes finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Elena Dybiec led off the inning with a double down the left field line, and moved up to third on a groundout by Ryanne Saluter. After another groundout froze Dybiec at third, Cecilia Garrett came through with an RBI single, which would prove to be enough for Bolinger.

In addition to the two hits in the fifth inning, the Gyrenes added two more, outhitting the Tigers 4-2 in the opener. Maggie Hampton singled to left field in her first at-bat in an Ave Maria uniform, while Morgan Grimm singled up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.

Campbellsville jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two, but the Gyrenes immediately answered back with four of their own. Miriam Padgett started the AMU half with a single, then scored from first on an RBI double from Hampton. Morgan Grimm added an RBI single to cut the Tiger lead to 4-2, and Kylee Lewis came through with a two-run single in her first appearance as a Gyrene to tie the score at four. 

The game was essentially decided in the second and third innings, when Campbellsville scored six unanswered runs. The Tigers scored five runs on three hits in the second, with two bases loaded walks as well as two run-scoring singles doing the damage. Another bases loaded walk allowed Campellsville to extend the lead to 10-4 in the top of the third.

Ave Maria tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the deficit in half with three runs. The Gyrenes loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, a Garrett single, and a walk to Padgett. Hampton drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Marisa Michi added another run on an RBI single. Padgett would score the third run of the inning on an errant throw following Michi's single. Those runs would prove to be it, as Campbellsville emerged with a 10-7 win.

Ashley Nelson did all she could in the circle for the Gyrenes, allowing just one earned run over 5.1 strong innings of relief. At the plate, Hampton, Saluter, and Lewis all had two hits, with Hampton and Lewis both adding two runs batted in. 

After one big win on Opening Day, the Gyrenes will take on an in-state rival in Florida National University. First pitch of the road doubleheader is scheduled for noon in Hialeah.