AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team earned their first doubleheader sweep of the 2023 season on Wednesday, taking two games from the Florida National University Conquistadors, the defending national champions from the USCAA. The Gyrenes rode a dominant pitching performance from Kaedyn Sutton to a 4-0 win in the opener, then came up clutch in back-to-back innings for a 5-4 win in eight innings in the finale.

Ave Maria had a wire-to-wire lead in the opener, scoring in the first inning and never relinquishing the lead. Ryanne Saulter continued her hot hitting with a single in her first at-bat, and a hit by pitch to Marisa Michi, followed by a groundout, put runners on second and third. With two outs, Ashley Altman singled back up the middle to give AMU a 1-0 lead.

That run would be all Kaedyn Sutton needed, as the freshman tossed her second consecutive complete game shutout. Sutton danced out of trouble all afternoon, stranding six Florida National runners in scoring position. The Ohio native allowed just four hits over her seven innings, striking out three while walking only one. 

Three more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the fifth, supplying a cushion for the Gyrenes. Two consecutive errors put runners on second and third, and Ashley Nelson drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. Karsyn Moore then clubbed a double to deep left field, and scored herself on an RBI groundout by Cecilia Garrett, who also made a diving catch earlier in the game to maintain Sutton's shutout. 

Saluter, Altman, and Moore all had two hits in the victory, and all three Gyrenes scored a run, as well, while Altman and Moore supplied RBIs. 

AMU again took the lead early in the second game, plating two in the bottom of the first. Saluter was once again involved in the offense, clubbing a one-out double. Michi singled, and Saluter then scored from third when the Gyrenes executed a first and third play. With two outs, Maya Gonzalez would club a double down the line, and would score on a single from her fellow freshman, Altman. 

Florida National finally got their bats going in the middle innings, scoring a run in the second, two in the fourth, and another in the fifth. An infield single from Megen Johnson got FNU on the board in the second, and a two-run double from Gabby Obando gave the Conquistadors the lead in the fourth. A single and an ensuing error did the damage in the fifth, extending the Florida National lead to 4-2.

The Gyrenes got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the Florida National lead down to one. Annie Nudera led off the inning with a single, and moved around to third on a wild pitch and a Michi single. With one out, Gonzalez trimmed the lead to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Down to their final three outs, the Gyrenes found the equalizer in the bottom of the seventh. Saluter started the action with a one-out single, and pinch runner Maggie Hampton moved to second on a groundout. Down to their final strike, the Gyrenes tied the game when Gonzalez lined a double down the third base line, evening the score at four and sending the game to extra innings. 

After keeping the Conquistadors from scoring in the top of the eighth, Ave Maria walked it off in the bottom half. Altman started the inning on second base, where she remained with two outs. AMU called upon pinch hitter Kayla Martinez, who lined a single to right field, scoring Altman from second and securing the sweep. 

Ashley Nelson pitched the final 4.1 innings of the game for Ave Maria, earning the win in the circle without allowing an earned run. Offensively, Saluter, Michi, and Gonzalez all had two hits, with Gonzalez's two runs batted in leading the run production.

Now with a record of 3-1, the Gyrenes will play 14 consecutive games away from home. The first two of those games will come February 25, when Ave Maria travels to Jacksonville for a meeting with Trinity Baptist College. AMU has won 12 consecutive games against the Eagles, dating back to the 2018 season.