LAKE WALES, Fla. — The Gyrenes picked up a win on the road Saturday as they split a doubleheader with the Warner Royals. Ave Maria won the first game 2-1 in eight innings before dropping the series finale by the same score.
In game one, the stellar pitching efforts continued from Friday. Both teams were scoreless through three innings of play. Lindsey Watson got the start in the circle for the Gyrenes and allowed just one hit in the first three innings.
A Kaitlyn O'Neill single to right center in the fourth ended the dry spell for the Gyrenes. Haleigh Campbell kept the momentum going as she singled shortly after and put two runners on base. During the next at bat in what should have been a routine grounder on sacrifice bunt, Warner tried to get greedy and throw to second to check Campbell. However, the throw was errant and allowed O'Neill to score the first run of the game.
Both pitchers kept their fire going as batters were put away the innings to follow. In the bottom of the sixth frame, Warner logged their first hits since the opening frame and brought home the tying run.
Both teams were unable to walk away with the victory in the seventh, so the game headed to extras.
In the top of the eighth inning, Ave Maria broke the tie. A walk issued to Sienna Franklin and an Ashley Lykins single loaded the bases as Mary McIntire was put on second as a ghost runner to start the frame. Genevieve Peterson then popped up a ball deep enough to center field that was able to bring home McIntire and put the Gyrenes up 2-1. Ave Maria had a chance to get some insurance, but left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the eighth, Warner put two runners in scoring position, moving the tying run to third and the winning run to second with nobody out. The Royals' Jillian Hudson the swung at the first pitch and popped the ball high in the air to right field which was caught by Franklin. The sophomore fired the ball to the plate and beat the runner who pulled up and retreated back to third. Catcher Michele Will had the runner in a rundown and trapped her in a pickle. After a couple of throws, pitcher Liz Negron tagged the runner out and then fired to second where the other runner was caught in a pickle as well. This pickle did not last as long as McIntire applied the tag at third to end the inning and win the game with a triple play. It was the first ever triple play in Ave Maria softball history.
At the plate, Campbell led Ave Maria with two hits. Peterson, Lykins, and O'Neill each recorded one hit.
In the circle, Watson made a solid start as she tossed 5.2 innings allowed just one unearned run off four hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Negron came in for relief and got the win, pitching the final 2.1 innings and giving up just one hit and one walk to two strikeouts.
The second game followed the script of the first two games. Only two hits were recorded through five innings. In the circle, Kaedyn Sutton logged four strikeouts during those frames.
Peterson continued her hitting streak for the series as she singled to first base in the sixth inning. After a walk moved her to second, she came into score off a Warner error giving the Gyrenes a 1-0 lead.
Warner immediately responded on their next trip to the plate. The Royals got a couple of baserunners on and then played small ball with back-to-back hit and runs to bring the tying run home.
Ave Maria got a runner aboard in the top of the seventh with a two-out single from Lykins but couldn't bring her home as the game remained tied at one.
In the bottom half of the frame, a walk, single and hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Royals and put the winning run at third. A sacrifice fly brought home the run and clinched the series for the Royals.
At the plate, Karsyn Moore, Peterson, O'Neill, and Lykins were able to record hits.
In the circle, Sutton had a strong start with the four strikeouts, but both runs were attributed to her as she got the loss.
The double header split brings the Gyrene record to 6-24 and 2-16 in the conference. The Gyrenes are currently in eighth place but still have a shot at making the conference tournament. Ave Maria will have to win their final two series to have a chance at making the tournament, but there is still a chance.
The Gyrenes close out the regular season with back-to-back home series starting Friday April 17, as the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans come to town. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
