AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team had their chances on Saturday, but dropped a pair of games in extra innings to the Keiser University Seahawks at the AMU Softball Complex. Keiser scored five runs in the eighth inning to take game one 6-2, then got the only run of extras to sweep the doubleheader, 6-5, in the nightcap.
The Gyrenes kept the Seahawks off the board for six innings in the opener, led by the efforts of junior lefthander Gina Gallegos. The Winter Haven native logged six scoreless innings before allowing a lone run in the seventh, surrendering just four hits to the Seahawks. Gallegos struck out two hitters, and took a no decision in the series opener.
Gallegos' lone run support came in the bottom of the fourth, as the Gyrenes took the lead thanks to some small ball. The Gyrenes put runners on the corners with one out, thanks to singles from Cecilia Garrett and Marisa Michi. Karsyn Moore then put down an excellent bunt, as Garrett was able to beat the throw home to put a run on the board for Ave Maria.
However, the next six runs would belong to the Seahawks. Keiser sent the game to extra innings with a run in the top of the seventh, then scored five, all unearned in the top of the eighth, led by a single and a three-base error that allowed four Seahawks to score on one play. Ave Maria did get a run back in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Garrett, but it was not enough in a 6-2 defeat.
In game two, Ave Maria jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Singles by Garrett and Ryanne Saluter, as well as a walk to Ashley Nelson, loaded the bases. After a fielder's choice replaced Garrett on the bases with Hailee Howe, sophomore Maya Gonzalez lined a double to center field, scoring all three runners and giving the Gyrenes their biggest lead of the afternoon.
Keiser responded with three runs of their own in the third, but Ave Maria had an immediate answer to retake the lead. Saluter continued her hot hitting with a leadoff double, and moved to third on a groundout from Nelson. The lead swung back to Ave Maria thanks to Howe, who blooped one into shallow left field, deep enough to score Saluter from third for a sacrifice fly.
After two Keiser runs put the Seahawks up in the sixth inning, AMU got a dramatic hit to send the game to extra innings. Garrett got things going for Ave Maria in the seventh, singling and moving to third with a steal and an error. Ashley Lykins then tied the game with an RBI single. Unfortunately for the Gyrenes, Keiser would score in the top of the eighth, and AMU was unable to respond, coming up one run short.
Ave Maria will look to avoid a sweep Sunday afternoon, with the series finale against the Seahawks scheduled for noon at the AMU Softball Complex.
