BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team battled in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, but couldn't snap their current losing streak in a pair of losses to the Warriors of Webber International University. Webber picked up wins of 4-2 and 3-1 over the Gyrenes, taking all three games of the Sun Conference series in Babson Park.

The teams traded runs in each of the first two innings of the opener, as Gyrene runs in the top half would be answered by Warrior runs in the ensuing bottom half. AMU got on the board in the top of the first, when Cecilia Garrett led off the game with a double. Garrett stole third, then scored when Ashley Nelson lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.

After Webber answered in the bottom of the first, the Gyrenes retook the lead without the aid of a hit. Ashley Lykins led off the inning by reaching on an error, then moved up to second on a Ryanne Saluter sacrifice bunt. With one out in the inning, Marisa Michi grounded to the third baseman, moving Lykins to third before an error allowed the freshman to cross the plate, putting Ave Maria back in front. 

Webber would then score the final three runs of the opener, scoring in the second, third, and sixth innings to clinch the series victory over the Gyrenes.

Garrett was AMU's offensive leader in the opener, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Ashley Nelson and Trinity Duran added AMU's other two hits, while Garrett and Maggie Hampton both recorded stolen bases. Kaedyn Sutton was a bright spot for the Gyrenes in the circle, as the freshman allowed just one run over 3.1 innings of work. 

Ave Maria once again took an early lead in game two, scoring in the top of the first. Annie Nudera and Ashley Nelson drew back-to-back walks, and remained on first and second with two outs. Maya Gonzalez then came through with two outs, drilling a single down the left field line to score Nudera from second base to give AMU a 1-0 lead.

That run would prove to be Ave Maria's last of the day, as Webber rallied with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Warriors tied the game with an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, then produced what would prove to be the winning run with a two-run single with two outs in the sixth. 

Maya Gonzalez was AMU's standout in the final game of the series. The freshman went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in the lone Ave Maria run. She also was Ave Maria's starting pitcher, where she allowed just one run over 4.2 innings of work in a no decision.

The closing stretch of the season will be a difficult one for the Gyrenes, who will play both of The Sun Conference's ranked teams. The first of those will come next weekend at home, when the Gyrenes battle the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia, with the series scheduled for Friday and Saturday.