MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team pulled off an improbable sweep on Wednesday evening, coming back in the seventh inning for the second night in a row to complete a sweep of the St. Thomas University Bobcats in Miami Gardens. Ave Maria won 4-1 in the day's opener, then scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take game three of the series, 6-4.

Game one of the doubleheader was scoreless for two innings before the Gyrenes scored twice in the third, claiming a lead they would not relinquish. Maggie Hampton was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then came around to score on a stolen base and an STU error off the bat of Cecilia Garrett. Garrett stole second, moved up to third on a bunt single by Katelynn Sebastiani, and made it 2-0 Gyrenes on a groundout from Ryanne Saluter.

The Gyrenes extended ther lead in the fifth inning, which would prove to be the final runs for the visitors. Sebastiani logged her second single of the day with one out, and a single from Saluter put runners on the corners. Marisa Michi drove in Sebastiani with a sacrifice fly to give AMU a 3-0 lead. A single from Ashley Nelson and a walk to Morgan Grimm loaded the bases, and another walk with the bases loaded to Elena Dybiec accounted for run number four. STU got one run back in the sixth, but could not get any closer.

Kassandra Clark pitched the first four innings of the game for the Gyrenes, and shut the Bobcats down with four scoreless frames and four strikeouts. The final three innings were pitched by Ashley Nelson, who gave up one run and scattered three hits. The win was the sixth of the season for the junior Clark, while Nelson earned AMU's third save of the season.

In game two, Ave Maria took an early lead before St. Thomas jumped on top. Kylee Lewis was hit by a pitch to start the third inning, and was replaced on first base by Gracie Lopez following a fielder's choice. Lopez stole second, and scored with two outs when Saluter lined a double to left center field. The game's next four runs were scored by St. Thomas, who held a 4-1 lead entering the top of the seventh. 

Ave Maria's seventh inning comeback started with Annie Nudera, who walked. Kylee Lewis then reached on an error, moving Nudera to second. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and a single from Trinity Duran scored Nudera to cut the STU lead to 4-2. Alexis Lendo then loaded the bases by reaching on catcher's interference. 

With the bases loaded, Saluter tied the game with a single up the middle, scoring pinch runners Anna Suess and Lopez. After a pitching change for the Bobcats, Marisa Michi reached on a fielder's choice to bring in the go-ahead run, and Nelson followed up with an insurance run, thanks to an RBI double.

After pitching three innings in the first game of the doubleheader, Nelson followed with five more in the nightcap to earn the win. Nelson came on in relief of senior Aylin Naranjo, who started the game with two hitless innings of work. At the plate, Ryanne Saluter led the way with two hits and three runs batted in. 

Entering Easter break, the Gyrenes are firmly in fourth place in The Sun Conference, are now just 3.5 games behind first place Southeastern in the standings. A spot in The Sun Conference Tournament could be clinched as early as next weekend, when the Gyrenes host third place Webber International for a Sun Conference series at the AMU Softball Field.