MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team scored nine unanswered runs on Tuesday, erasing an early deficit in a 12-4 victory over the Lions of Florida Memorial University at Carol City Park. Down 4-3 after two innings, the Gyrenes scored three in the third - including two on inside the park home runs - and six more in the fourth to put away the Lions in the first ever meeting between the teams.
Ave Maria's offense started fast, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first. Miriam Padgett started the game with a single, and moved around to third on a steal and a passed ball before scoring on a Ryanne Saluter single. A single from Marisa Michi moved Saluter to second, and a two-out hit from Elena Dybiec scored Saluter from second. FMU would answer with three runs of their own in the bottom half, taking a 3-2 lead.
The teams traded runs in the second inning, starting with one from the Gyrenes. A one-out single from Cecilia Garrett, followed by a Padgett groundout, put a runner on second with two outs. Saluter was able to bring in Garrett on an error, tying the game at three before the Lions retook the lead in the bottom of the second.
AMU grabbed the lead for good with three runs in the top of the third, which included a pair of inside-the-park home runs. The first was provided by Aylin Naranjo, hitting her first homer of the second to again even the score. Annie Nudera was next, as her four-bagger gave Ave Maria a 5-4 lead. An error off the bat of Padgett, which scored Maggie Hampton, extended the Ave Maria lead to two runs at 6-4.
Six more runs crossed the plate for AMU in the fourth, would would be enough to eventually end the game by run rule. Two walks and a Morgan Grimm single would load the bases, and a sacrifice from Nudera would account for the first run. A two-run double from Hampton made it 9-4, and a Garrett single increased the lead to 10-4. Ryanne Saluter finished off a stellar day at the plate with a two-run double to account for the 12-4 final score.
Kassandra Clark allowed three runs in the first inning, but then settled in to allow just one run in her final four innings of work to earn the complete game win, striking out four hitters in the process. Garrett led the Gyrenes with three hits, and was one of five AMU hitters to hit safely at least twice. Saltuer was Ave Maria's leading run producer with four RBIs.
The Sun Conference series continues Wednesday with two more games at Carol City Park, as Ave Maria looks for a sweep that would put the Gyrenes back above .500 in league play. The doubleheader is scheduled for a noon first pitch on the east coast.
