AVE MARIA, FLA. – After a blowout game by the Gyrenes on Friday, the Ave Maria Softball team closed out the series with the Florida Memorial Lions with a doubleheader sweep. Ave Maria scored a frenzy of runs first game of the twin bill, while the defense held the Lions in check for a 13-0 win. The second game was more competitive as the Gyrenes secured the series sweep with a 1-0 win.
 The Gyrenes got the party started early in their first trip to the plate. Three Gyrenes drew three straight walks and loaded the bases. Karsyn Moore then logged the first hit of the game with a single to left center, bringing home Ashley Lykins, and Hailee Howe. With two runs on the board, Genevieve Peterson grounded in the five and six gap, securing a single, and scoring Alexa Hehl. A sacrifice fly brought home the final run of the frame as the Gyrenes took a 4-0 lead.
Following three quick Florida Memorial outs, the Gyrenes wasted no time in their next at bat. Kaitlyn O'Neill scored the next run for Ave Maria, as she was batted in by a Howe single. In the next at bat, Alexa Hehl grounded out but gave enough time for Lykins to score. Similar to Hehl, Moore made contact and was thrown out at first, while Howe added another run.
With two outs on the board, the Gyrenes took full advantage of the extra time granted to them in frame as Florida Memorial committed five errors before recording the final out. Alexia Bracero and Peterson were the first two to get aboard via a Lion miscue. With runners on the corners, Liz Negron got aboard with another error that brought home Bracero. Mia Mazolini faced the same situation and had the same result: getting aboard via an error and scoring Peterson. As the batting lineup recycled, O'Neill cracked a single that scored Negron. To put the cherry on top of the inning, Howe reached first on another Lion error that scored O'Neill and Mazzolini. Ave Maria scored an impressive eight runs in the frame, extending their lead 12-0.
The last run of the game for Ave Maria came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nevaeh Wing started the momentum with a double to center field. To follow, Teagan Milewski reached the bags with a single to left field. Hehl singled to right field, scoring Wing.
With a 13-0 lead, the Gyrene secured a run rule win, ending the game in the fifth inning.
At the plate, nine different Gyrenes recorded a hit. Moore led Ave Maria with a career-high of three runs batted in.
In the circle, Lindsey Watson pitched the first three innings and only allowed two hits. Watson also added a strikeout as she got her second win of the season. Mazzolini tossed the final two frame, allowing one hit and also recording one strikeout.
The second game of the double header was a change of pace from the first two games the series. Instead of a run-rule victory, Ave Maria won a close pitcher's duel 1-0.
The Gyrenes scored the only run of the ball game in the bottom of the first. With runners on the corners, Bracero slapped a single to center field that scored Mazzolini.
The Gyrenes found a way to hold on to their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the game.
Florida Memorial had plenty of chances to even up the ball game but left two runners aboard in the four of the seven innings. In the top of the seventh, the Lions put two runners aboard with two outs, but a fly out to right field ended the game and secured the sweep for the Gyrenes.
Along with scoring the winning run in the first, Mazzolini started the game and pitched the first two innings. Despite two hits and a walk allowed, Mazzolini kept FMU off the board and struck out three batters. Senior Kaedyn Sutton tossed the final five innings of the game, allowed just two hits and two walks and struck out three batters as well. Sutton earned her seventh win of the season and finishes her Ave Maria career with 34 wins, the most in school history.
With the doubleheader and series sweep, Ave Maria finishes the season with a 10-26 record overall and a 6-18 record in Sun Conference play.
