MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (March 20^th, 2019) – The St. Thomas University Softball Team (18-6, 4-2 TSC) earned their first Sun Conference sweep on Wednesday night at 'The Colonel' against the Ave Maria University Gyrenes (11-22, 1-6 TSC). Game one ended early in six innings as the Bobcats run-ruled the Gyrenes in six innings 11-3. Game two ended with a final score of 6-1. Although the night ended in favor of STU, it was more than just about a softball game at 'The Colonel' as the games were dedicated to honor the life of Gyrene student-athlete, Emily Acosta, who passed a month ago to the date.
 
Bobcat Starters: Melody Grafals (C), Gigi Santos (LF), Alliyah Sands (SS), Rebeka Ehrenthal (RF), Emily Santos (CF), Alexis Castroman (1B), Tyenna Colon (2B), Kaitlin Spalding (DP), Sarah Descheene (3B), Jennifer Acevedo (SP)
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Game One Notes:

• Bobcats cracked the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third.
• Sands reach on by a hit by pitch and stole second to put herself into scoring position.
• Ehrenthal drove in Sands with a single to right field, STU took a 1-0.
• The Gyrenes tied the game up in the top of the fourth making it 1-1.
• STU broke open the game in the bottom of the fourth scoring six runs off six hits.
• Colon turned on the wheels to stretch a bloop single behind the second baseman to a double to start out the inning.
• The pinch hit machine, Jordan Kruempel, came in again and delivered with a single to center field to bring in Colon and give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
• Grafals singled to left center and G. Santos reached on a fielder's choice, Ave then followed with an Alliyah Sands intentional walk.
• With two outs away in the inning and bases loaded, Ehrenthal drove in Grafals with a single through the left side.
• With the same set up again, Emily Santos came in and made the Gyrenes pay for their decision with a bases clearing triple to over the left fielder that reached the fence to make it 6-1.
• Castroman added the final dagger with a single to center field to drive in E. Santos to cap off the inning and take a commanding 7-1 lead as the Bobcats batted around the inning.
• AMU scratched back for two in the top of fifth to cut their deficit to five at 7-3.
• In the bottom of the sixth St. Thomas blew the doors open and ended the game early.
• Ehrenthal drew a walk to start off the inning and had Dayma Pla come in to pinch run.
• E. Santos then singled to right center and created chaos as Pla drew a throw to third base that went wild and drew more chaos and Santos scored all the way around the bases to take a 9-3 lead.
• Castroman singled and then the Bobcats drew three walks and a hit by a pitch that ultimately led to two more runs coming in and the game closing at 11-3.

Box Score Notables:

• Bobcats improve to 7-1 when recording double-digit hits.
• STU records a season-high six walks in the contest, three coming in the bottom of the sixth.
• Rebeka Ehrenthal went a perfect three-for-three at the plate.
• Emily Santos gets her team leading third triple on the year, ranking second in the conference.

#MVBobcats

• R. Ehrethal: 3-3, R, 2 RBI, BB
• E.  Santos: 2-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, 3B
• A. Castroman: 3-4, R, RBI
• J. Acevedo (8-3) 6 IP, CG, 3 ER, 5 K

 
Bobcat Starters: Grafals (C), G. Santos (LF), Sands (SS), E. Santos (CF), Delaware (2B), Castroman (1B), Kruempel (DP), Pla (RF), Descheene (3B), Spalding (SP)
 
Game Two Notes:

• In game two the Bobcats offense started right where they left off as the put up four in the opening frame, jumping on the board first once again.
• G. Santos executed the perfect bunt single to the third baseman who then sailed it to right field allowing Santos to use her wheels and score all the way around the base path.
• Sands then reached on a single and snagged her first of three bags to move into scoring posItion.
• E. Santos then drew a walk and with a double steal in place, they drew an errant throw from the catcher that scored Sands.
• The next two runs came of chaos produced from the Bobcats as they scored four runs off two hits and capitalized on two Gyrene errors to take a 4-0 lead.
• A couple of quiet innings went by until the bottom of the fourth.
• Sands drew another intentional walk to load up the bases and STU capitalized one again as E. Santos groundout to the shortstop plated in a run and extend the lead to 5-0.
• AMU scratched for a run in the top of the fifth to make it 5-1.
• An RBI-single from Sands plated the final run on the evening to secure the game at 6-1.
• Acevedo came into relief for the final two innings retiring five straight hitters and only allowing one hit.

Box Score Notables:

• Sands recorded a career-high three stolen bases in a single game.
• STU's defense put in a lot of work as not a single Gyrene struck out. The Bobcats put out 17 ground balls on the evening.

#MVBobcats

• G. Santos: 3-3, R, BB
• Sands: 2-2, R, 2BB, RBI, 3 SB
• K. Spalding (6-2) - 5 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB

 
St. Thomas will continue Sun Conference play this Saturday as they hit their road up to Lakeland, Fla. to take on the Southeastern University Fire on March 23^rd, first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.