CLERMONT, Fla. – The opening day of the Sun Conference Softball Championship was marked by tight games, as the three contests at Legends Way Ballfields were decided by a total of four runs.
Top-seeded Warner and No. 3 seed Thomas advanced in the winner’s bracket and will square off at 12:30 p.m. Friday for a spot in Saturday’s championship game. No. 4 seed Ave Maria went 1-1 on day one, while No. 5 seed USCB and No. 2 seed Southeastern each lost their opening game and will meet in an elimination game at 10 a.m. Friday.
GAME 1 – AMU 3, USCB 2
Deanna Stirtzinger laced a two-run triple in the first inning, and Alyssa Colding went 3-for-3 and scored two runs to lead the Gyrenes past the Sand Sharks.
Sadie Mosher (17-6) outdueled Abby Pac (16-13) for the win, allowing two runs and seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and five walks. Pac struck out nine and limited the Gyrenes to three runs (two earned) and seven hits over six frames.
USCB left 11 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times in the first four innings. Ave Maria plated the eventual winning run thanks to a three-base throwing error in the bottom of the third.
GAME 2 – TU 4, SEU 2
Sun Conference Player of the Year Kelsey Connolly broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the sixth inning, and pinch-hitter Ashley Sikes and Vicky Camina drove in runs in the seventh as the Night Hawks knocked off the Fire.
Southeastern scored two runs in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate before Lauren West (20-5) worked out of trouble to preserve the win. West allowed two unearned runs and four hits over five innings of relief, striking out five.
GAME 3 – WU 2, AMU 1
Paige Davis delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to lift the top-seeded Royals past the Gyrenes.
Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year Chelsie Valentine (14-7) rebounded after allowing a run in the first inning to shut out the Gyrenes the rest of the way, striking out six and allowing one run and four hits.
Mosher (17-7) turned in another strong performance on the mound but was hurt by two unearned runs, allowing eight hits and two walks.
The Royals left 10 runners on but were able to take advantage of two opportunities, as Jessica Adams came up with an RBI single in the fifth and Davis delivered the game-winner.