BABSON PARK, Fla. — The Ave Maria softball team got their first Sun Conference win Friday, shutting out the Webber Warriors 3-0. Gina Gallegos stayed calm in the circle and the defense backed her up to secure the shutout win.

Ave Maria scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning. With two runners, Mary McIntire dropped a bunt in front of the plate to move the runners over. However, McIntire was able to beat out the throw for an infield single of her own. Seeing the ball down by first base, Hailey Howe took an aggressive turn around third and headed for the plate. The Webber defense was slow to react, and Howe slid in safely for the first run. Both McIntire and Sienna Franklin each moved up more base after the throw home.

Genevieve Peterson brought home the next run, slapping an infield single to the let side and bringing home Franklin. Cecilia Garrett brought in the final run with an RBI single of her own that put the Gyrenes up 3-0.

On the defensive side, the Gyrenes played with fire, but never got burnt. Webber recorded nine hits in the game and had three innings with multiple hits. The most dangerous frame was the sixth inning with Webber getting three hits. The Warriors started the inning off with a double and a single. A third single would have loaded the bases, but the Gyrenes defense threw the runner out runner heading for second. Gallegos then struck out the next batter and fielded her position on a groundout to get out of the inning and strand two batters.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors got a runner in scoring position again, but a flyout and groundout ended the game with the Gyrenes on top.

Gallegos recorded her seventh complete game of the season and her second shoutout of the year. She struck out two batters while not allowing any walks.

Garrett had the only multi-hit game for the Gyrenes, going 2-for-4 at the plate.

With the win, Ave Maria improves to 12-15-1 overall and 1-3 in Sun Conference play.

The Gyrenes close out their second conference series Saturday, March 15, with a doubleheader against the Warriors. First pitches are set for 1 and 3 p.m. and both games will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.