PEMBROKE PINES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team moved above .500 in Sun Conference play for the first time this season, beating the Lions of Florida Memorial University, 6-3, at Broward College South in Pembroke Pines Friday afternoon. The Gyrenes never trailed in the conference victory, and withstood a late rally from the Lions to move to 4-3 in SUN play.

After two scoreless innings of play, the Gyrenes opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third, giving Ave Maria a lead they would never relinquish. The AMU scoring started with an FMU miscue, as Karsyn Moore led off the inning by reaching on an error, and advancing to second on said error. The freshman moved up to third on a groundout, then scored the afternoon's first run when Cecilia Garrett singled up the middle. 

A two-out rally allowed the Gyrenes to add to their lead in the top of the fourth. Hailee Howe singled with two outs, then moved up to second when Maggie Hampton was hit by a pitch. Moore drew a walk to load the bases, and Maya Gonzalez drew AMU's second hit by pitch of the inning to send Howe across the plate, increasing the Ave Maria lead to 2-0. 

The Gyrenes looked to pull away in the fifth inning, increasing their lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs. Marisa Michi started AMU's offense with a one-out single, and scored shortly thereafter on an RBI triple from Ashley Nelson. After a Florida Memorial pitching change, the Gyrenes' fourth run crossed the plate when Ryanne Saluter lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

Florida Memorial got right back in the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Gyrenes regained control of the contest with two final runs in the top of the sixth. Gonzalez got the AMU offense going with a one-out double. A Garrett single would put runners on the corners, and a stolen base from Garrett put two runners in scoring position. 

Annie Nudera drove in the first of those runners with a groundout, and Nelson added the second with an RBI single to right. Those runs would prove to be all the insurance the Gyrenes would need, as AMU recorded the final six outs with no issue to ensure their fourth SUN win of 2023.

Four Gyrenes - Garrett, Michi, Nelson, and Howe - all had two hits in the Gyrene victory. In the circle, Kaedyn Sutton did not allow a run in five of her six innings of work, posting an outing that was enough for her tenth win of the season. Nelson came on to pitch the final inning for the Gyrenes, and earned her first save of the year in the process.

Ave Maria and Florida Memorial will return to Broward College South on Saturday for a doubleheader, as the Gyrenes look for their second straight series win in Sun Conference play. First pitch in Pembroke Pines is scheduled for noon, with the series finale slated for 2:00.