AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team split their fourth doubleheader in a row Thursday afternoon as they took one of two games from the Fort Lauderdale Eagles. Runs were at a premium for both games between the Gyrenes and Eagles with UFTL winning game 1-0 and Ave Maria winning game two 4-2.
The early contest in the two-gamer was pitcher's duel through all seven regulation innings. Gina Gallegos started in the circle for the Gyrenes and didn't allow multiple baserunners until the sixth inning. The senior hurler only allowed four hits and two walks while striking out two batters in the first seven innings.
Unfortunately, the Gyrenes had an even tougher time at the plate than the Eagles. Ave Maria was held hitless through the first six innings. They only got two baserunners on in those frames via a walk and an error, but both were left stranded.
The seventh inning was the best for the Gyrenes as they threatened to walk off the game. Kate McIntyre led the frame off with a hit by pitch which was followed by a single form Annabella Phillips. The single was the first hit of the game for the Gyrenes.
With two on and nobody out, Ave Mari was a great spot to win the game, but a heads up fielding play on a fielder's choice kept runners on first and second, and then a pickoff attempt erased the lead runner. A groundout ended AMU's chances in the seventh and sent the game to extra innings.
Game one was the first game of the season to actually play extra innings for the Gyrenes this year. Fort Lauderdale finally broke the scoreless tie with a leadoff single and then an RBI triple.
The Gyrenes went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth as Fort Lauderdale secured the win in the first game.
Game two got off to a faster start for the Gyrenes with Ave Maria plating runs in the first and second innings.
The opening run was brought home after back-to-back errors from the Eagles' third baseman brought home Neveah Wing.
In the second inning with the bases loaded, it was an RBI ground out from Alexia Bracero that brought home Mary McIntire for the second run.
In the circle, Kaedyn Sutton dominated in her seventh start of the season, striking out three batters in the first three innings to tie a season-high.
Fort Lauderdale got a run back in the fourth inning to cut the Gyrenes lead in half. In the fifth, the Eagles tacked on another run to tie the game with just two frames left to play.
The Gyrenes did not get discouraged at losing their early lead and got it back an inning later in the sixth. Alexa Hehl led the inning off with a single. The sophomore came into score on the next at bat off another error from the Eagles' third baseman. It was a ground ball that UFTL tried to turn two on, but the throw went wide of second and rolled deep into centerfield. Hehl rounded second and third and then was waved into score, retaking the lead for the Gyrenes. On the next at bat, Cecilia Garrett slapped a single to left field that brought Payton Maguire who reached on the fielder's choice error.
Back with a two run lead, the Gyrenes went out to close the game in the top of the seventh. Sutton worked two quick outs to start the frame, but the Fort Lauderdale put two runners on off back-to-back singles. With the tying run aboard, Sutton got the Eagles to line out to McIntire at short to end the game.
Hehl and Garrett led the team in hits Thursday, both collecting two hits in the second game.
Sutton got her third win of the season, evening her record to 3-3, and struck out a season-high four batters.
The doubleheader split is the fourth in a row for the Gyrenes, dating back to their doubleheader split against the very same Fort Lauderdale Eagles February 11. With the split, Ave Maria's record moves to 4-9-1.
The Gyrenes are on the road for their next games Friday, February 21, in a neutral site doubleheader against Columbia International in Miami Gardens, Florida, hosted by St. Thomas. The Gyrenes are 1-1 all time against the Rams, splitting a doubleheader with them in 2022. First pitches are set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Ave Maria returns home Saturday, February 22, for another doubleheader against NCAA Division II opponent Palm Beach Atlantic. Six games in three days is the most dense stretch of the season for the Gyrenes.
