AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team found themselves on top of RV Coastal Georgia late in game Saturday for the second time in their series against the Mariners. However, the Gyrenes couldn't close the game out as Coastal Georgia scored five runs in the top of the sixth to win the game 9-6.
After a Coastal Georgia run in the top of the second, the Gyrenes put together two big innings to get out to a sizeable lead. The first of those two innings was the bottom of the second, with the Gyrenes bringing home three runs. The scoring started with an RBI triple from Mary McIntire to bring home Karsyn Moore and Annabella Phillips. It was her first triple of the season and her third extra base hit. Genevieve Peterson brought her home with a single to make the score 3-1.
Ave Maria added three more runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Kate McIntyre slapped an infield single that moved everybody up 60 feet and brought home McIntire. A couple of at bats later, Annabella Phillips drove a double to left center that brought home Sienna Franklin and Peterson to put the Gyrenes up 6-1. A five run lead was tied for the largest by either team in the series.
Coastal Georgia got three runs back in the fifth inning, but the Gyrenes were still on top 6-4.
The dagger was in the sixth inning when the Mariners brought home five runs to take a 9-6 lead. Coastal Georgia brought home five runs off three hits, two walks and two errors.
Ave Maria had chances to tie the game in the final two frames and even loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying run at first and the winning run at the plate with nobody out. But three straight outs dashed the Gyrenes hope and secured the win for the Mariners.
Errors were the downfall of the Gyrenes Saturday as they committed five in the field, which is tied for a season high this season.
McIntyre led the team with three hits which is a season high for her. Five other Gyrenes each had two hit games to make Ave Maria's 13 total hits, which is tied for the most in a game this season for the Gyrenes.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 11-15-1 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
The Gyrenes are on the road for their next conference series, traveling north to Babson Park, Florida, to take on the Webber Warriors. Webber was also swept in their conference opening series, dropping three games to the St. Thomas Bobcats. Overall, Webber is 6-15. The first game of the series is Friday, March 14, with first pitch at 4 p.m. The series wraps up with a doubleheader Saturday, March 15. All three games will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
