BRUNSWICK, Ga.- The Ave Maria University softball team grabbed an early lead against the defending Sun Conference champion Coastal Georgia Mariners Sunday morning, but couldn't make that lead hold up in a 6-5 loss in Brunswick. The Gyrenes were unable to get a win off the Mariners in three tries in the Peach State, despite putting together their best effort in Sunday's finale.
For the first time all weekend, the Gyrenes grabbed an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Annie Nudera was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then was bunted to second by Ashley Lykins. After a walk to Ryanne Saluter, Annabella Phillips put AMU on the board with an RBI single. Ashley Nelson then made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. Unfortunately for the Gyrenes, Coastal would immediately answer, scoring five in the bottom half of the frame to take a 5-2 lead.
Trailing by three runs, the Gyrenes trimmed the deficit back to two with a run in the top of the second. With one out in the inning, Maya Gonzalez clubbed a double to right center. Gonzalez moved up to third base on a wild pitch, then got Ave Maria back within 5-3 when she scored on a two-out RBI single from Nudera.
After surrendering a run in the bottom of the third, the Gyrenes attempted a rally in the fifth, scoring twice to cut the CCGA lead down to one. Phillips led off the inning with a hit by pitch, and pinch runner Genevieve Peterson moved to second on a wild pitch. An RBI single from Nelson cut the Mariner lead to 6-4, and AMU would proceed to put runners on the corners before a Gonzalez fielder's choice made it 6-5. However, AMU would be unable to score any further, falling to the Mariners by one run.
Maya Gonzalez had her best offensive game of the weekend on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Gonzalez's second inning double accounted for AMU's only extra base hit of the day. Ashley Nelson continued her bullpen brilliance, coming on in the bottom of the third inning and tossing 3.1 scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and one walk in that time.
Ave Maria will return home for their second Sun Conference series of the season, playing the Keiser University Seahawks on March 22 and 23. The series will consist of one game on Friday, March 22, followed by a doubleheader the following day at the AMU Softball Complex in Ave Maria.
