MELBOURNE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team followed a similar script to their first day on the Space Coast on Monday, earning a 6-3 win in the opener before running out of gas in the nightcap. Monday afternoon, the Gyrenes earned a 6-3 win over Huntington University from Indiana, but dropped an 8-0 decision to Grand View University from Iowa, who entered the game receiving votes in the most recent edition of the NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Ave Maria never trailed in the opener, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Gyrenes had runners on second and third with no outs to start the inning, thanks to a hit by pitch to Ashley Lykins and a walk to Cecilia Garrett. Marisa Michi then gave Ave Maria a 1-0 lead on an RBI single, with an error bringing Garrett across for the second run of the inning. 

AMU's lead widened to 3-0 thanks to a run in the bottom of the third. Lykins again got the offense started, this time with a single. Lykins would move up to third on a grounder and a flyout, standing there with two outs. Annabella Phillips then came through with the single, giving the Gyrenes a 3-0 lead after three innings of play. 

Huntington would trim the Gyrene lead down to 3-2 with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but one big hit from the Gyrenes proved to be the difference in the game. Ave Maria loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, powered by singles from Phillips, Ryanne Saluter, and Ashley Nelson. Sophomore Hailee Howe then drilled a double to left field, scoring all three runners to make it 6-2 Gyrenes.

The Foresters got a run back and loaded the bases in the seventh, but standout closer Ashley Nelson slammed the door shut with a strikeout, ensuring a 6-3 win for the Gyrenes. It was Nelson's fifth positive decision of the season, with the senior now having three wins and two saves. It also marked the fifth save of Nelson's career, the most for any Gyrene pitcher in program history.

Gina Gallegos earned the win in the circle for the Gyrenes, going 5.1 strong innings with two runs allowed. Phillips was the Ave Maria leader at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.

The second game of the doubleheader was less kind to the Gyrenes. AMU played the Vikings scoreless for four innings, but Grand View put up eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, turning a scoreless into a shortened victory for the team from the Hawkeye State.

Ryanne Saluter, Karsyn Moore, and Ashley Altman provided the three hits for the Gyrenes in the nightcap. Altman had the only extra base hit for the Gyrenes, a double in the top of the third inning.

It is a busy week for the Gyrenes, who still have another four games on the schedule, all of which coming in Ave Maria. The first doubleheader is slated for Thursday, when AMU battles Alverno College from Wisconsin, an NCAA Division III opponent. First pitch of the twinbill on the AMU campus is slated for 1:00 p.m.