CLEARWATER, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team saw a resurgent 2022 season come to an end on Friday, as the Gyrenes dropped their second game in The Sun Conference Tournament, 3-2, to the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia. The Gyrenes outhit CCGA 11-8, but could not come up with a game-breaking hit in the season ending loss.

Coastal Georgia gained an early lead, as the Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the first after AMU loaded the bases but could not score in the top half. Leadoff hitter Sarah Thinger was hit by a pitch, Melani Jones singled, and McCall Maret was hit by another pitch to load the bases. With two outs in the frame, Makenzie Kagee gave the Mariners the lead with a two-run single to left field. 

Ave Maria got a run back in the top of the third inning, cutting the Coastal lead down to one. Ashley Nelson drew a walk to lead off the frame, and consecutive singles from Morgan Grimm and Annie Nudera loaded the bases with no outs. After two fielder's choices cut down runners at the plate, Maggie Hampton singled up the middle to drive in Nudera. Miriam Padgett attempted to score on the play as well, but was thrown out at the plate to keep CCGA ahead.

The Gyrenes put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Marisa Michi singled after the first two hitters grounded out, and Nelson reached on an error to put runners on the corners. After a walk to Grimm loaded the bases, Annie Nudera battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a bases loaded walk, evening the score at two after four innings.

Friday's game remained tied until the seventh inning. AMU had runners on first and second with no outs, but two popouts and a lineout ended the threat. In the bottom half of the inning, Maret started the frame with a double, and moved up to third on a passed ball. After Kayla Rowell was forced to pop out for the first out, Cevana Wood walked it off for the Mariners with an RBI infield single.

Three Gyrenes had multiple hits in the final game of the season, as Grimm, Miriam Padgett, and Gracie Lopez all had two hits, with Grimm and Annie Nudera both reaching base three times. In the circle, Kassandra Clark pitched from the third inning on for the Gyrenes, and did everything in her power to keep the season alive. The sophomore tossed four scoreless innings before the final frame, scattering five hits to keep AMU in the game.

AMU concludes the 2022 season with their first postseason berth since 2017, and a bright future ahead with six of Friday's starters freshmen or sophomores. The 2022 season, the first under head coach Wil Hampton, was also AMU's first .500 season since that 2017 campaign, and saw sophomore pitcher Alissa Bolinger earn the school's first-ever All-Conference accolade for a pitcher.