AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Softball team snapped the losing streak Tuesday afternoon in dramatic fashion as they took the first game of a doubleheader against the Webber Warriors 4-3 in nine innings. The Gyrenes scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win their first extra innings game since February 25, 2024. Webber took the second game 4-3 to split the twin bill.
Game one started off as a pitcher's duel between Ave Maria's Kaedyn Sutton and Webber's Taylor Thomas. Both teams did not score a run until the sixth inning.
In the circle, Sutton was dealing as she retired the first ten batters she faced, including a strikeout in the third inning. Webber broke up the perfect game with a double in the top of the fourth but could not bring home a run.
The Warriors broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth with a one-out RBI triple. With an insurance run waiting at third, the Gyrene defense turned to big groundouts to hold the runner at third and end the frame with just the one run allowed.
In the bottom half of the inning, Haliegh Campbell brought home Ashley Lykins with an RBI single that tied the game at one. Lykins got aboard with a one-out single earlier in the inning, giving her a hit in 17 of the last 18 games.
Neither team got any offense going in the seventh inning, so the Gyrenes headed to extras for the first time in 2026.
In the eighth, Webber moved the ghost runner up to third on a passed ball, but a heads up play from Alexia Bracero at first kept the run from scoring. Webber tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt to bring home the run, but Bracero charged the ball, scooped it up and dove for the runner, applying the tag right before she could touch home plate.
Ave Maria moved their ghost runner to third in the bottom half of the inning, but a lineout and flyout stranded the winning run 60 feet away.
In the top of the ninth, Webber lit up the scoreboard and brought home two runs to take a 3-1 lead. The Warriors got two runners in scoring position and then brought both of them home with an error and a sacrifice fly.
The Gyrenes needed to make up two runs in the bottom half of the frame to at least extend the game. Mary McIntire reached first on an error that put runners on the corners with the ghost runner.
Campbell laid down a bunt during the next at bat and Webber tried to respond to AMU's play at the plate in the eighth with one of their own, but Lykins slid under the tag to bring the Gyrenes within one.
In the next at bat, Hailee Howe laid another bunt down and again the Warrior defense had trouble handling it. The pitcher fielded the ball but overthrew first, allowing Campbell and McIntire to score, giving the Gyrenes the win.
The victory snapped a 19-game losing streak which was the second longest in program history.
"It's been exciting to watch the pieces starting to click in place for our defense," said head coach Trinity Medina. "Today really showcased what has been building within this group."
Kaedyn Sutton tossed all nine innings for the Gyrenes, logging her second complete game of the season. Nine innings pitched is the most since Alissa Bolinger tossed a nine-inning complete game on March 3, 2022, against Calumet. Sutton struck out two and allowed just three runs, only one of which was earned, off three hits and one walk.
Game two of the twin bill was just as exciting but did not go the Gyrenes way as Webber won 4-3.
After a pitcher's duel in the opener, the bats started out hot as both teams brought home two runs in the first inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Ave Maria scored their two runs with back-to-back extra base hits from Campbell and Howe. Campbell knocked an RBI double to left field to score Lykins and then Howe recorded her second triple of the season to bring home Campbell.
Webber retook the lead with two more runs in the third off a two-RBI double.
Ave Maria got a run back in the bottom of the fifth off the bat of Howe again. With two one, Howe dropped a single into center field to bring home Teagan Milewski. Gwen Negron drew a walk to load the bases for Ave Maria, but a ground out stranded the tying run, go ahead run and an insurance run on the bags.
Ave Maria got the tying run to third again in the sixth inning but was again left stranded. In the seventh, the Gyrenes went three-up, three-down to end the game.
In the circle, Liz Negron made her first start of the season and tossed the first three innings. Lindsey Watson followed her and shut down the Warriors for the final four innings, allowing no runs and scattering three hits.
With the split, Ave Maria moves to 5-21 overall and 1-13 in conference play.
The series will conclude with the rubber match Wednesday, April 1. Ave Maria looks to win their first conference series of the season and win their third series in a row against Webber. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
