AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team swept their first home doubleheader Sunday afternoon, beating the Cleary Cougars 3-2 in game one and 7-1 in game two. The two contest were entirely different, with the Gyrenes eking out their second walk-off win of the season in game one and then jumping on the Cougars early in game two.
Cleary opened the scoring in game one, bringing home a run in the top of the third inning.
Ave Maria responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. After being held to just two hits in the first three frames, the Gyrenes exploded for three hits in the fourth. The third and final hit was from Mary McIntire with the bases loaded to bring home Cecillia Garrett. A popout and flyout, however, ended the inning before the Gyrenes could add any more.
The Gyrenes put a go ahead runner on base in the fifth and sixth innings, but double plays ended both frames and kept the game tied at one.
In the top of the seventh, Cleary got back on the scoreboard to take a narrow 2-1 lead. The Gyrenes need at least a run in the bottom half of the final frame.
Things started great for the Gyrenes with a leadoff double, but fielder's choice play eliminated the lead runner. With a runner on first and one out, Kate McIntyre lined a triple to right field that brought home Sienna Franklin to tie the game at two.
In the next at bat, pinch hitter Karsyn Moore drove a ball out to right field that brought home Franklin for the winning run. It is the second walk-off win of the season for the Gyrenes, with the first coming the day before against Calumet.
Kaedyn Sutton got the win in the circle for the Gyrenes, tossing a complete game. Sutton gave up the two runs of six hits and no walks while striking out one batter. She improves to 5-4 on the season and now has six complete games on the year.
After some dramatic theatrics in the first game, the Gyrenes took care of business early in the second game. Ave Maria took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Alexia Bracero and McIntire combined for RBI hits in the first inning.
The Gyrenes found the scoreboard again in the third inning with their biggest frame of the weekend. AMU brought home three runs off four hits to take a commanding 5-0 lead. After back-to-back hits from Garrett and Bracero, Annabella Phillips got the scoring started with an RBI single to bring home a run. In the next at bat, Phillips got the attention of the Cougar defense drifting away from first and was able to escape out of a pickle getting back to first base in time. While the defense was occupied, Brigid Hood, who was pinch running for Bracero, snuck home to score the next run.
McIntyre brought home Phillips for the final run of the inning for the Gyrenes with another RBI triple. It was her second triple of the doubleheader and her fourth of the season, which leads the team.
The Gyrenes struck for two more runs in the fifth inning after stringing together a few more hits. McIntyre got her second RBI hit of the game, this time a double, that brought home McIntire. Moore kept the scoring going with another RBI double the scored McIntyre.
Cleary scored their lone run in the top of the seventh to breakup the shutout, but the Gyrenes cruised through most of the game on their way to the doubleheader sweep.
Gina Gallegos got the win in the circle for the Gyrenes, also tossing a complete game. Gallegos only gave up one unearned run off four hits and one walk and struck out one batter as well. It is the third win of the season for Gallegos and her fifth complete game of the season.
McIntire led the team with four hits in the doubleheader, collecting two in each game. Bracero, Garrett, McIntyre and Moore all had multi-hit games in the second hit. All three of McIntyre's hits in the doubleheader went for extra bases, with a double and two triples.
With the sweep, Ave Maria improves to 9-12-1 overall and 6-6 at home.
The Gyrenes are on the road for two neutral site games, Tuesday, March 4, in the USSSA Space Coast Games. Ave Maria is taking on the #10 Marian Knights and the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans. First pitches are set for 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
