AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team dropped their series opener against the No. 17 Southeastern Fire Friday afternoon, falling 9-0 in six innings. It was a tough day at the plate as the Gyrenes got mercy-ruled for just the second time this season.
Kaedyn Sutton had a good start in the circle for the Gyrenes, tossing a hitless three innings to start. Three runners got via a walk and two errors, but the Gyrene defense stranded all three runners to keep the score locked at zero.
Southeastern scored the first two runs of the game in the fourth inning. The first two batters got on with two singles and then were brought home with a sac bunt fielder's choice and an RBI groundout.
The Fire scored four more runs in the top of the fifth to get out to a six-run lead. The Gyrenes tried three different pitchers in the frame, but the Fire were able to hit on all of them.
The bottom of the third was the best chance for the Gyrenes to get back into the game. With one out, Annabella Phillips, Neveah Wing, and Karsyn Moore all hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load up the bases. Ave Maria had two outs to work with, but a strikeout and groundout ended the frame and stranded all three runners on the bags.
Southeastern scored their final three runs in the top of the sixth with a three-run homer over the left field wall. It was the first dinger allowed at home by the Gyrene pitching staff.
The Fire closed things out in the bottom half of the sixth to invoke the mercy rule and end the game one-inning early. It is just the second game this season Ave Maria has been mercy ruled, with the first being a 12-3 loss to Brewton-Parker January 31.
In the circle, Sutton got the loss bringing her record to 9-6 on the year.
At the plate, Moore led the team with two hits. It is her ninth multi-hit game of the season, which is tied for the second-most on the team.
The loss drops Ave Maria's record to 17-22-1 on the year and 6-10 in Sun Conference play.
The Gyrenes wrap up the series with the Fire Saturday, April 5. First pitches are set for 1 and 3 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
