AVE MARIA, Fla. (March 10, 2023) - The start of Sun Conference play began with another one in the win column as the St. Thomas University (STU) Softball team (16-2, 1-0 SUN) continue their historic start. The Bobcats defeated the Gyrenes of Ave Maria University in the opener 3-1 at Gyrene Field Friday afternoon.

Kaitlin Spalding go the starting nod in the circle and threw two and a third innings giving up one run on five hits.

The scoring got started in the second inning with reigning Sun Conference Player of the Week, Marla Lavado doubling to center field. Fundamental softball kicked in with Jade Fayad laying down the sacrifice to our Isabella Fernandez the pinch runner in scoring position. The second baseman, Ariana Manzanarez then came and delivered the RBI-single to score Fernandez for the 1-0 lead.

Ave Maria was able to tie the game up in the bottom half of the third.

As the outs started to become limited, the offense had to get going again. They did so in the top of the sixth putting two across that would be enough to see the win through. Natalie Kopicova had a one-out triple to start it off. Fayad then came up one again and delivered a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Paris Ford and give the Bobcats the lead again at 2-1. An error by the short would bring in another road to give the Bobcats cushion.

Abbigail Smith came in to relief in the circle and was lights out. Smith threw four and two-thirds innings allowing just one hit, no runs allowed, two strikeouts, and not one free pass. 

St. Thomas swill return tomorrow to close out the opening series with a double header, first pitch set for 1 p.m.

-STU-