Box Score
Game One Matchup: No. 14 Keiser University Seahawks vs. Ave Maria University Gyrenes
Records: Keiser Seahawks (22-2) vs. Ave Maria (4-11)
Game One Score: Keiser 3, Ave Maria 1
Pitchers of Record: W: M. Masternak (12-1) , L: K. Sutton (3-3)
Time of Game: 2:00 PM
Ave Maria Softball Field | Ave Maria, Fla.
AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Keiser University softball team opened Sun Conference play Friday with a 3-1 victory over Ave Maria at AMU Softball Field, improving to 23-2 on the season before a second game was postponed due to weather and will resume Saturday morning.
Keiser got on the board first, plating two runs in the third inning to take a lead they would largely protect throughout. Ave Maria answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to one, but the Seahawks put the game away with an insurance run in the seventh. Genesis Iglesias was the offensive catalyst, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a sacrifice fly to account for the majority of Keiser's run production. Kaci Kidd paced the lineup with three hits and a stolen base, and Faith Campos added a double and an RBI to round out a clean if efficient offensive effort.
Mackenzie Masternak was masterful in the circle, throwing all seven innings and striking out seven batters while allowing just five hits and one earned run to improve to 13-1 on the season. She has now thrown 100.1 innings this year and continues to be one of the most reliable pitchers in NAIA softball.
The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was suspended due to weather after one inning of play, with Keiser leading Ave Maria 11-1. The game will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. beginning in the top of the second inning, with the Seahawks holding a bases-loaded situation with no outs.
- Keiser improved to 23-2 on the season and opened Sun Conference play with a win, defeating Ave Maria 3-1 behind a complete game from Mackenzie Masternak. The Seahawks have now won 11 consecutive games.
- Masternak was at her best on Friday, striking out seven batters over seven innings while allowing just five hits and one earned run. She improves to 13-1 with a 2.17 ERA and has now thrown 100.1 innings on the season.
- Genesis Iglesias led the offense going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a sacrifice fly. She now has 25 RBI on the season, continuing to be the team's most productive run-producer.
- Kaci Kidd went 3-for-4 with a stolen base to pace the Keiser lineup with hits on the day. She is now batting .372 on the season with 32 hits and 16 RBI.
- Keiser committed zero errors in Game One, combining Masternak's efficiency in the circle with a clean defensive performance behind her to limit Ave Maria's opportunities throughout.
- The suspended second game will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. with Keiser leading 11-1 and batting in the top of the second inning with the bases loaded and no outs, putting the Seahawks in prime position to extend their lead and secure another Sun Conference win.
Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m. with the resumption of the suspended game against Ave Maria, with Keiser leading 11-1 and batting in the top of the second inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Following the conclusion of that game, the Seahawks will play the third and final game of the series against Ave Maria to close out the weekend.
