SUNRISE, Fla. — The opener had to wait a couple of days, but the Ave Maria Softball officially opened the 2026 season with a huge win over the Fort Lauderdale Eagles. The Gyrenes crushed the Eagles, winning via mercy rule in the sixth inning by a score of 12-1.
Ave Maria scored early and often in the game, bringing home five runs in the first three innings. The Gyrenes brought home two in the first, one in the second and two in the third.
In the middle of the second inning, the game entered a rain delay as a torrential downpour opened up in Sunrise. The game was delayed for nearly two hours before resuming in the top of the second.
The two teams held each other scoreless for two innings. But just as ferociously as the rain dumped in the second inning, the Gyrenes poured on the runs in the sixth, plating a total of seven.
Hailee Howe got the rally started with a leadoff triple to left field. Howe was easily brought in during the next at bat with an RBI double from Kate McIntyre. Kaitlyn O'Niell kept the scoring going with an RBI single to bring home McIntyre and put the Gyrenes up 7-0.
Ave Maria loaded the bases after O'Neill's single, putting even more pressure on Fort Lauderdale. Haleigh Campbell was the next to bring home runs with a two-RBI single that scored O'Neill and Sienna Franklin. Karsyn Moore lit up the scoreboard again with an RBI double that brought home Mary McIntire and moved Campbell to third.
The final two runs were brought home off the bat that started the scoring as McIntyre rolled a ground ball to second that was bobbled by the Eagles defense. Campbell and Moore were both able to score on the error and give the Gyrenes a 12-0 lead.
Fort Lauderdale got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, but it was enough to avoid the mercy rule as the Gyrenes ended the game an inning early with a 12-1 win.
Thursday was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader, but the second game was called off due to more rain in the area and time constraints on the field.
The Gyrenes collected 10 hits in the game off nine different bats. Ashley Lykins recorded the only multi-hit game with a single and a double. Campbell and Moore were the two Gyrenes to record multi-RBI games, each with two. As a team, the Gyrenes swiped eight bases, with Nevaeh Wing and Lykins each getting two.
In the circle, Kaedyn Sutton made her first start of the season and got the win tossing five scoreless innings with only two hits allowed and two strikeouts. Noelani Sokolik pitched in the sixth and got three strikeouts.
With the win, Ave Maria starts the 2026 season with a 1-0 record.
The Gyrenes stay on the road and are back in action Friday, February 5, in Jacksonville as they take on Trinity College of Jacksonville, previously known as Trinity Baptist College. The Gyrenes will take on the Eagles in doubleheader. First pitch from the First Coast is set for 1 p.m. and the games will be streamed on Trinity College's YouTube channel.
