CLERMONT, Fla. – Ave Maria (Fla.) University edged Point Park University in an NAIA doubleheader Sunday from The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Ave Maria (3-3) won the first game, 6-2, and took the nightcap, 2-1, in eight innings.
Ave Maria pitchers Brittany Blizzard and Aylin Naranjo limited the Pioneers to five hits and one earned run on the day. Point Park pitchers Ashley Iagnemma and Katie Tarr each pitched a complete game for the Pioneers. Ave Maria was able to take advantage of some key situations each game to win.
AVE MARIA 6, POINT PARK 2
Blizzard pitched all 7.0 innings for Ave Maria giving up just two runs and two hits. She let the defense work with one strikeout and two walks in her outing.
The Gyrenes scored three times in the fourth inning to up their lead to 4-0. It was small ball with a couple of bunts, an infield hit, a fielder's choice and an error producing the runs.
Point Park got a couple of those runs back in the fifth with Taylor Goldstrohm singling, Courtney Blocher walking and then both runners moving up on a double steal. Delany Baumis and Chandler Krelow then followed with fly balls to bring in the runs.
Ave Maria scored twice in the sixth to re-take the four-run lead. Iagnemma struck out nine and walked one in the complete-game loss. She was charged six runs (four earned).
AVE MARIA 2, POINT PARK 1 (8 INN.)
Extra innings were needed to decide the pitcher's duel between Naranjo and Tarr. Ave Maria cracked the scoreboard first with Michalla Davis' RBI double in the fourth. Point Park tied the score in the sixth when Carissa Scekeres walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an error.
In the top of the eighth, Point Park the go-ahead run over to third base with one out. But a double play ended the threat with Tiffany Edwards flying out to left field and the runner from third cut down at the plate.
Ave Maria's Emma Thompson produced the game-winning hit in the last of the eighth, a single with one out. It was one of six hits for the Gyrenes.
Tarr went all 7.1 innings and yielded just the two runs (one earned). She struck out eight and walked six. Winning pitcher Naranjo gave up three hits, three walks and struck out three in her 8.0 innings.
NEXT GAME
Point Park plays Webber International (Fla.) on Monday at 2:15 p.m. for a doubleheader. Live video will be provided by FloSoftball for all contests of The Spring Games. Go to PointParkSports.com for the link to sign up.
