AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team excelled in the dramatic Wednesday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader with New College of Florida with a pair of 3-2 wins. Ave Maria moved their current winning streak to four games with a pair of walk-off wins, both of which coming thanks to two runs crossing the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

The only runs either team scored in the first five innings of the opener came from AMU in the bottom of the first. Cecilia Garrett led of the frame with an infield single, and moved around to third on a sacrifice bunt from Lindsey Watson. With one out, Ave Maria's all-time RBI leader put the Gyrenes on the board, as an RBI single from Marisa Michi made it 1-0.

Wednesday's opener remained tied until the top of the sixth, when New College evened the score on an RBI single. The Mighty Banyans then took their first lead of the afternoon in the top of the seventh, going up 2-1 on a sacrifice fly.

Down a run with just three outs remaining, the Gyrenes found their late inning magic. Ashley Altman drew a walk to lead off the frame, and a single from Garrett, as well as an ensuing error, put runners on second and third with no outs. A perfect bunt from Watson scored Altman, tying the game at one. With runners on second and third and no outs, Michi stepped up and did what she does best, driving a single through the right side to win it for Ave Maria.

Michi was the offensive standout for Ave Maria in the win, going 3-for-4 and driving in two of Ave Maria's three runs. In addition to scoring the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, Ashley Altman picked up the win in the circle in her first appearance of the season

New College grabbed a 2-0 lead with a two-run double in the first inning of game two, but the Mighty Banyans were shut down from there. AMU starter Kaedyn Sutton tossed five scoreless innings after a bumpy first, keeping Ave Maria within striking distance of the visitors.

The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Ave Maria finally got on the board. Hailee Howe led off with one of her three hits, a single, then moved to second base on a passed ball. After a grounder from Watson moved Howe to third, Altman continued her productive day with a sacrifice fly, cutting the NCF lead in half. 

In the bottom of the seventh, it was Howe that provided the biggest hit of the game. After a leadoff single from Ryanne Saluter, Howe ended her 3-for-3 day with a deep triple to left field, scoring Saluter and evening the score. Just a few pitches later, Annie Nudera walked it off for the Gyrenes, as the pinch runner raced home from third on a wild pitch.

Ave Maria's winning pitcher was Ashley Nelson, who tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Nelson has appeared in three games this season and gotten the decision in every one, picking up two wins and a save.

The Gyrenes will look to continue their winning streak, in more ways than one, Friday at home against Trinity Baptist College. Ave Maria has won four straight this season, and has won 14 straight all-time against the Eagles. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.