AVE MARIA, Fla. - On Thursday, April 2, the Warner University softball team hit the road for a mid-week  Sun Conference doubleheader against Ave Maria University.  The Gyrenes won game one 5-0  but the Lady Royals rallied to win game two 6-2.  The split improves the Lady Royals' record to 12-10-1.  Their six conference wins (6-2) are tied for the league lead and have the Lady Royals all alone in fourth place in the league standings.  The Gyrenes move to 18-17 with the split and are now 3-3 in conference play.

In game one, the Lady Royals were shut down at the plate thanks to a two-hit complete game performance by Ave Maria's Cheyenne Benson.  Erika Shick broke up Benson's no-hitter with a single to left field in the fifth inning. 

Jessica Adams recorded Warner's other hit with one out in the seventh inning. Adams was 1-for-1 in the game with two walks.

Brittany Winget (3-3) was opposite Benson in the circle for the Lady Royals.  Winget tossed all six innings for the complete game and surrendered five runs on seven hits.

In game two, the Lady Royals had no shortage of offense as they pounded the Gyrenes for 12 hits including four doubles.  After falling behind 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Lady Royals sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the fifth and scored four runs on four hits.  Brittany Winget doubled to right center, Nicole Comstock singled up the middle, Kaitlyn Ficarrotta doubled to left field and Makenzie Garcia singled to right center in four consecutive at-bats to bring home the runs.

The Gyrenes added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning but the Lady Royals tacked on a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to earn the split 6-2. 

Chelsie Valentine (8-2) picked up their third straight win with her third straight complete game performance.  The sophomore from Haines City, Fla. scattered six hits and two runs over seven innings with four strikeouts lowering her ERA to 2.41.

Jelisa Potter accounted for three of Warner's 12 hits in game two going 3-for-5.  Brittany Winget finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.  Cynthia Micohero was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Next week the Lady Royals travel to Lakeland, Fla. to take on NCAA-II Florida Southern College on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 & 8 p.m.  Then on Saturday, April 11, the Lady Royals welcome Southeastern University to Daly Field for a Sun Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.  Saturday will also be senior day as the Lady Royals will  honor seniors Jelisa Potter, Shannon Cataldo and Cynthia Micochero.