Game Matchup: No. 14 Keiser University Seahawks vs. Ave Maria University Gyrenes
Records: Keiser Seahawks (25-2) vs. Ave Maria (4-14)
Game One Score: Keiser 25, Ave Maria 2
Pitchers of Record: W: P. Wright (4-1) , L: L. Watson (0-4)
Time of Game: 10:00 AM
Game One Score: Keiser 5, Ave Maria 3
Pitchers of Record: W: M. Masternak (14-1) , L: K. Sutton (3-5)
Time of Game: 12:00 PM
Ave Maria Softball Field | Ave Maria, Fla.
AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Keiser University softball team completed a three-game Sun Conference sweep of Ave Maria on Saturday, resuming a suspended game from Friday and rolling to a 25-2 run-rule victory before rallying past the Gyrenes 5-3 in the finale to close out the series and improve to 25-2 on the season.
The first game picked up where Friday left off, with Keiser resuming play in the top of the second inning with the bases loaded and no outs and a 11-1 lead already in hand. The Seahawks made the most of the opportunity, erupting for 11 more runs in the second inning alone to put the game completely out of reach, then adding runs in each remaining inning before the run rule ended it after five. Sarah Phipps was the offensive standout, going 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored to pace the attack. Faith Campos matched her energy with a 4-for-6 effort, driving in three runs, scoring four times, and stealing two bases. Kaci Kidd added a triple and three RBI, Macy Schaaf went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and a remarkable five stolen bases, and Olivia Shoemaker drew three walks and drove in two runs without recording an official at-bat. Presley Wright worked five innings in the circle to earn the win and improve to 4-1.
The finale was a tighter contest that required a late push. Ave Maria scored three runs in the second inning to take an early lead, but Keiser responded with two runs in the third to pull within one and then delivered the decisive blow in the seventh, pushing across three runs to go ahead for good and secure the 5-3 victory. Genesis Iglesias led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Campos and Kidd each went 2-for-4, with Campos adding a sacrifice fly and two RBI and Kidd scoring twice. Mackenzie Masternak was strong in the circle despite pitching through three Keiser errors, throwing all seven innings while allowing just two earned runs and no walks to improve to 14-1 on the season.
- Keiser improved to 25-2 on the season with the sweep, going 3-0 against Ave Maria in the Sun Conference series and outscoring the Gyrenes 33-5 across all three games of the weekend.
- Sarah Phipps went 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored in Game Two, continuing what has been one of the most productive stretches of her season. She now has 19 RBI on the year and is hitting .333.
- Faith Campos had one of her best offensive days of the season in Game Two, going 4-for-6 with three RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. Her season stolen base total now stands at 22.
- Macy Schaaf stole five bases in Game Two — the most by any Keiser player in a single game this season — while also going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the run-rule victory.
- Kaci Kidd hit a triple and drove in three runs in Game Two and followed it with a 2-for-4 effort in Game Three, giving her a strong performance across both games on the day. She is batting .383 with 20 RBI on the season.
- Presley Wright earned the win in Game Two, working five innings and allowing just one earned run to improve to 4-1 on the season, providing reliable pitching depth behind Masternak.
- Mackenzie Masternak threw a complete game in Game Three, working all seven innings and allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with no walks to improve to 14-1 on the season.
- Genesis Iglesias went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI in Game Three, providing the biggest offensive contribution of the finale and now has 27 RBI on the season.
- Keiser combined for 30 runs and 28 hits across both games on Saturday, continuing one of the most productive offensive stretches in the program's season.
- Olivia Shoemaker drew three walks and drove in two runs in Game Two without recording an official at-bat, demonstrating her ability to contribute to a big inning without needing a hit.
- Ave Maria committed six errors in Game Two and three more in Game Three, giving them nine total across Saturday's action — miscues that Keiser capitalized on repeatedly throughout the day.
- Keiser stole 12 bases across both games on Saturday, nine in Game Two and three in Game Three, highlighting the Seahawks' aggressive baserunning approach that has been a defining trait all season.
Keiser will be back in action on March 20th as they will return to Alumni Field and host Warner University. Single game on Friday at 3:00pm followed by a double header on Saturday March 21st, at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
