AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team could not keep their offensive output from the weekend going in the first home doubleheader of the season, falling 2-1 and 6-4 to the Conquistadors of Florida National University. Miscues hurt the Gyrenes on Opening Day, as five of FNU's eight runs on the day were unearned.
Florida National led for the entirety of the first game, scoring a run in the first inning and another run in the third. The Conquistadors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as a single from Heather Cuddy and an ensuing Gyrene error put FNU on the board. The lead widened to 2-0 in the top of the third, thanks to an infield single from Gabi Obando.
Ave Maria was quiet until the seventh inning, when the Gyrenes nearly sent the game to extra innings. Pinch hitter Annie Nudera started the inning with a walk, then stole second to move into scoring position. A single from Ashley Altman put runners on the corners, and a groundout from Cecilia Garrett put AMU on the board and moved Altman to second. Another groundout put Altman on third with two outs, but she was left there when a deep fly ball from Marisa Michi fell just short.
Despite taking the loss, Gallegos pitched well for the Gyrenes, allowing just one earned run over seven innings while striking out five. Six different Gyrenes accounted for AMU's hits, with Annabella Phillips logging the lone extra base hit, a double.
AMU grabbed an early lead in the second game, leading 1-0 after the first inning. Garrett did much of the work, leading off with a single before moving up to second on a grounder, then stealing third. Michi then gave the Gyrenes the early edge, thanks to a sacrifice fly to right.
A big third inning was the difference in the game, as Florida National put up a five-spot. An error and a passed ball helped the Conquistadors keep the inning alive, and run-scoring efforts from Bianca Bartow, Jordan Bohn, and Sabrina Castelli pushed the lead to four runs. FNU added another in the fourth to push the lead to 6-1.
The Gyrenes tried to make a game of it in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to get back within two. Michi led off the inning with a double to center, then scored on an RBI single from Phillips. A single from Ryanne Saluter moved pinch runner Brigid Hood to third, and a single from Maya Gonzalez cut the deficit to three. Altman cut the deficit to two on an RBI groundout, but that would be the final run of the day for either team.
Angelique Ballew was the brightest spot for the Gyrenes in the second game, as the sophomore allowed just one run across 4.1 innings of work. Gonzalez and Garrett were Ave Maria's top players offensively, with both players logging two hits.
Ave Maria will return to the field Saturday for a doubleheader against Fort Lauderdale, a rematch of a split played Sunday in Fort Lauderdale. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for noon in Ave Maria.
