AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team split their final doubleheader before the start of conference play on Wednesday afternoon, taking the first of two games against the visiting Rams of Columbia International University. The Gyrenes rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Rams in the opener, but could not come up with any timely hits in the nightcap, a 5-1 defeat.

The opening game was scoreless through three and a half innings, with Ave Maria finally breaking through in the bottom of the fourth. AMU loaded the bases with two outs on a Marisa Michi double, a Morgan Grimm single, and a hit by pitch delivered to Elena Dybiec. On a 3-2 pitch, Katelynn Sebastiani drilled a bases-clearing triple to the left center field gap. Sebastiani then scored on an ensuing double from Ryanne Saluter, extending the AMU lead to 4-0. 

Ave Maria added three more runs in the fifth inning, again striking with two outs. Gracie Lopez, who had singled, and Michi, who had reached on a fielder's choice, stood on second and third when Grimm eclipsed 20 RBIs on the season with a single through the left side, scoring both runners. Ave Maria's lead expanded to 7-0 when the next hitter, Dybiec, clubbed a triple to left field, Ave Maria's second triple in as many innings.

After Columbia International scored their first run in the top of the sixth, the Gyrenes responded with two runs in the bottom half to end the game early. Saluter started the action with a single, and moved around to third on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice. Ashlyn Wilkes, who hit the fielder's choice, moved to scoring position with a steal, and the pair scored on a sacrifice fly from Lopez and a game-ending RBI single from Miriam Padgett. 

Alissa Bolinger continued to be Ave Maria's ace with six strong innings of work to earn her eighth complete game of the season. Bolinger allowed just the one run in the sixth inning, and did not walk a batter for the second time in her last three starts. In Bolinger's eight starts thus far this season, the Gyrenes hold a 7-1 record.

In the nightcap, Ave Maria fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, and were never able to claw their way back. AMU's lone run came in the bottom of the first, when Padgett singled and moved up to third on a CIU throwing error. After a hit by pitch and a groundout, Grimm added her third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field. Columbia International added two more runs in the fourth to account for the remainder of the scoring. 

Trinity Duran had one of her best games as a Gyrene in the nightcap, going 3-for-3 with three singles. Saluter also added a pair of hits, including AMU's lone extra base hit, a double. Ave Maria easily could have had a dozen or more hits, but Columbia International consistently made stellar plays in the field to take away hits from the Gyrenes.

Aylin Naranjo was another bright spot for Ave Maria, as the senior tossed three shutout innings in relief of starter Kassandra Clark. The righthander did not walk a batter in her three innings of work, scattering three Ram hits in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.

With 20 non-conference games in the books, the Gyrenes finally begin Sun Conference play with a doubleheader on Saturday against the Seahawks of Keiser University. The doubleheader will be the first part of a three-game series that will conclude with a solo game on Monday.