SARASOTA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team was walked off Tuesday afternoon by the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans in a wild series opener. The Gyrenes led for most of the game but couldn't hang on as they lost 8-6.
Ave Maria opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-RBI single from Cecilia Garrett, bringing home Mary McIntire and Sienna Franklin. For Garrett, it was her second multi-RBI game of the season.
New College got a run in the bottom half of the frame to make it 2-1.
In the next inning, McIntire went deep over the left field wall for her first collegiate home run. It was a three-run blast, bringing Franklin and Kate McIntyre home with her, and put the Gyrenes up 5-1. She now joins Annabella Phillips as the only two Gyrenes to leave the yard this year.
However, New College responded in kind, knocking a three-run blast of their own in the bottom of the third inning to get back within one of Ave Maria. The Mighty Banyans completed the comeback in the fourth inning, tying the game at five.
In the top of the fifth, the Gyrenes got back in front again off the bat of McIntire. With a runner in scoring position, the freshman slapped a double to left field bringing home Hailee Howe for the go-ahead run. McIntire finished the game a career-high three hits, two for extra bases, and career-high four RBI.
The lead wasn't enough though as New College tied it up again in the bottom of the fifth.
Both teams were held quiet in the sixth leading into the final frame.
In the top of the seventh, Ave Maria got a runner to third with only one out, but she was left stranded there as back-to-back fly outs ended the inning.
In the next half inning, New College hit their second homer of the game to bring home two runs and win 8-6.
A combined three home runs between the two teams are the most the Gyrenes have seen in a game since March 31, 2023, when Ave Maria traveled to then conference member Thomas. Ave Maria hit two home runs off the bats of Annalise Anderson and Ashley Nelson while Thomas had just one home run.
Along with McIntire's career day at the plate, Garrett and McIntyre also had multi-hit games. As a team, Ave Maria registered 10 hits, which is the third time in four games they have hit double digits.
In the circle, Kaedyn Sutton got the start and threw the first 3.1 innings. After New College started to make some noise in the fourth, Ave Maria went to Gina Gallegos who kept the Mighty Banyans at bay until the last inning.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 15-18-1 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
The Gyrenes will close out their series with the Mighty Banyans Wednesday, March 26, with a doubleheader. First pitches are set for 2 and 4 p.m. and the games will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
