MELBOURNE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University softball team ended their stay at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games Friday morning, falling 4-2 to the Saints of Siena Heights University. The Gyrenes, who finished 6-5 in eleven games in Melbourne over the past several weeks, led for a majority of the contest before the Saints scored four runs in the final two innings to claim the win.
Ave Maria struck first on Friday, getting two runs in the bottom of the second. In the second, Ashley Nelson led off with a single, and Cecilia Garrett followed with a bunt single of her own, putting runners on first and second. Maya Gonzalez then bunted the runners over, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. Marisa Michi drove in her 11th run of the season with a sacrifice fly, and Annie Nudera added an RBI single through the left side, putting AMU up 2-0.
The Gyrenes kept Siena Heights off the board for the first five innings, but the Saints finally broke through for three runs in the top of the sixth. The Saints scored on a bunt single and a fielder's choice, then took the lead on a two-out single through the left side. Siena Heights would also add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, scoring an unearned run thanks to an AMU error.
Despite taking the loss, Maya Gonzalez pitched well for the Gyrenes, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings without surrendering a walk. Ashley Altman came on in relief of Gonzalez, and recorded the final five outs without giving up an earned run.
Cecilia Garrett was Ave Maria's offensive leader in the losing effort. The junior outfielder went 2-for-3, scoring one of Ave Maria's two runs. All six AMU hits in the Space Coast finale were singles, with Ashley Lykins, Ryanne Saluter, Nelson and Nudera supplying the Gyrenes' other four hits.
Ave Maria finishes non-conference play with a record of 21-8, and now prepares for the stretch of seven three-game series that make up Sun Conference play. The beginning of Sun Conference action will present a major challenge for the Gyrenes, as AMU heads north to take on the defending SUN champions, the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia. The series will consist of a Saturday doubleheader, followed by a solo game Sunday to conclude matters. The Gyrenes then return home for a doubleheader against Keiser on March 22 and 23.
