AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time in five years on Saturday, thanks to a doubleheader split with the Warriors of Webber International University. The Gyrenes fell in game one, 5-4, but rallied for a bizarre, dramatic, 1-0 walk-off win in game two. The win in game three of the series ensured that Ave Maria will finish with a winning record in The Sun Conference, another feat that had not occurred since 2017.

Webber jumped out on the Gyrenes in the opening game of the doubleheader, leading 3-0 after three innings. The Warriors scored twice in the first on a single from Mimi Maggard and a double from Witney Bones, then widened the lead in the top of the third inning on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

All four of Ave Maria's runs in the opener came in the bottom of the fourth, as the Gyrenes took a 4-3 lead. An error, a fielder's choice, and two hit by pitches allowed AMU to load the bases, and another Webber error sent the first two runners across the plate. A sacrifice fly from Trinity Duran was deep enough to score Kylee Lewis to even the score, and Ryanne Saluter gave the Gyrenes the lead with an RBI single. 

However, Webber responded with two runs in the top of the fifth, which would prove to be the difference in the game. Two Warrior singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, and Brandy Barquin tied the game for Webber with an RBI single. The Warriors took the lead for good thanks to a sacrifice fly from Genesis Aviles.

Kassandra Clark went all seven innings for the Gyrenes in the circle, her fifth complete game of the season. Ave Maria managed three hits in the losing effort, all singles, which were supplied by Saluter, Marisa Michi, and Morgan Grimm. 

The pitching matchup from the opening game of the series between Kayla Swinson and Alissa Bolinger had its rematch in game three, and the two aces did not disappoint. Neither Swinson nor Bolinger allowed a run in seven innings. This time, Bolinger was the more dominant of the two pitchers, striking out seven with just two hits allowed. Swinson's answer was four strikeouts with three hits allowed, as the teams once again headed to extra innings in a scoreless tie.

In the top of the eighth inning, Barquin was Webber's tiebreaker runner. Barquin moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, a grounder by Bland was fielded by Morgan Grimm. Grimm fired to the plate, and catcher Elena Dybiec applied the tag to the sliding Barquin, accounting for the second out of the inning. Bolinger then got Kelsea Friend to pop up, ending the inning with a 0-0 score intact.

AMU's half of the inning, which had Gracie Lopez as the runner on second, started with a failed bunt attempt. With one out, Ryanne Saluter hit a ground ball to the left side. The throw was errant, and went out of play. Lopez had advanced to third on the play, and after a conference from the umpires, was awarded home to five the Gyrenes the clinching victory. 

One more Ave Maria win would clinch a top four seed in May's Sun Conference Tournament. The Gyrenes will finish the regular season with a conference series against the Warner University Royals, who themselves are searching for a postseason berth. Action between the Royals and the Gyrenes starts at 1 pm Friday with a doubleheader, and continues at 4 pm next Saturday.