VIERA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team ended their first stay at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games with another split on Tuesday, falling to the Cleary University Cougars, 5-4 before finishing the day with a 3-0 victory over the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats. The split gave the Gyrenes a winning record of 6-5 on the Space Coast, and a 8-5 record in the team's spring break trip.

Similar to Ave Maria's first game on Monday, the Gyrenes found themselves in a 3-0 hole in the first inning of the opener due to several AMU miscues. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when Ave Maria scored their first run without the aid of a hit. 

Cecilia Garrett and Ryanne Saluter drew consecutive walks to start the inning, and both moved into scoring position on a Marisa Michi bunt. Ashley Nelson then drove Garrett in from third with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the Cleary lead to 3-1.

Ave Maria finally got their big hits in the top of the sixth, taking a 4-3 lead. Annie Nudera reached on an error to start the frame, and Garrett drew a walk to put runners on first and second. The Gyrene runners moved up to second and third on a dropped infield fly, and Nelson tied the game on a double to left center field with two outs. 

Hailee Howe gave the Gyrenes the lead with a bloop single to left, scoring pinch runner Hailee Walter from second base. Cleary responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth, sending the game to the seventh inning tied at four. AMU couldn't score in the top half of the frame, and Cleary got a pair of hits to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh. 

Nelson was Ave Maria's unquestioned offensive leader in the opener, logging three quality at-bats with two doubles and a sacrifice fly, finishing with three RBIs. Despite the loss, Maya Gonzalez pitched well for the Gyrenes, allowing just two earned runs over her 6.2 innings in the circle.

In game two, it was Ave Maria that took advantage of an error to take an early lead. Annie Nudera led off the inning with a single, then moved around to third on a Garrett groundout and a bunt from Saluter. With two outs, a grounder off the bat of Michi was misplayed, allowing Nudera to score the game's opening run. 

AMU added to their lead with another run in the top of the third. It was again Nudera that got the Gyrenes going, with the junior reaching base on a one-out single and moving to second on a passed ball. Nudera scored on a two-out single from Michi, extending Ave Maria's lead to 2-0.

The Gyrenes put the finishing touches on their victory in the bottom of the sixth, adding their third and final run. Saluter started the inning on second base after a Culver-Stockton error, and scored on the very next pitch when Michi lined a single to right center field.

Kaedyn Sutton was brilliant in the circle for the Gyrenes, tossing a complete game shutout against the Wildcats. The freshman allowed just four baserunners, with only a second inning single keeping Sutton from her second no-hitter of the season. Offensively, Nudera was Ave Maria's leader, going 3-for-3 with two of AMU's four runs scored.

Sun Conference play begins for Ave Maria on Friday, when the Gyrenes begin a three-game series with undefeated St. Thomas at the AMU Softball Complex. Following the three games with the Bobcats at home, Ave Maria will return to the USSSA Space Coast for four more games, with doubleheaders scheduled for March 13 and 14.