BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Week six proves to be a big weekend for the College of Coastal Georgia softball team as they begin Sun Conference play and their quest for their third straight regular season title as they travel to Ave Maria, Fla. to take on the Gyrenes in a three game series on Friday and Saturday.
SERIES PREVIEW:
Friday, March 7 - DH beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 - single game beginning at 12:00 p.m.
KEY STORYLINES
RARE STRUGGLES
Last time out against Grand View in the Space Coast Spring Games, the Mariners struggled in the box, mustering just one hit over the full seven innings of play. It was the first time that CCGA had been held to just one hit in a game since 2022 when they were beaten 2-0 and one hit from the Fire of Southeastern on March 29.
HAGGERTY CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOK
Senior
Alyssa Haggerty started the season ranked tied for ninth in school history with 19 career stolen bases, and with five already this season, she has made her way up to solo eighth place in the record book. She needs just six more to tie former teammate
Sarah Thinger for seventh all time.
SUN CONFERENCE RUNS THROUGH BRUNSWICK
Since joining the Sun Conference in 2017, the Mariners have been one of the most dominant teams, winning two tournament championships and three regular season championships, finishing no worse than second since 2019. Even with a younger team than last season, the Mariners are poised to make another strong run through the conference and prove they belong at the top of the rankings.
OPPONENT PREVIEW: AVE MARIA
The Gyrenes (11-12-1) come in fresh off the heels of a top 10 victory after defeating the 10th ranked team in the country in the form of Marian by a final of 4-0. AMU has won their last four contests, but are 6-6 on their home field this season. Hailee Howe has led the Gyrenes offense through 23 games this season as the junior is still hitting .400 on the season with five doubles and two triples. While the long ball is not a staple of Ave Maria's offense, extra base hits are as they have 27 doubles and nine triples, with four players having four or more doubles on the season already. Kaedyn Sutton and Gina Gallegos have been the two headed monster in the circle for Ave, both starting 12 games this season and both posting sub 3.00 ERA's. Both have over 20 strikeouts and both have over four wins on the season, but both allow their fair share of hits sitting at over 70 a piece with opponents hitting no less than .289 off the duo.
CCGA has won the last six matchups with the Gyrenes dating back to 2022, and has not lost a series to Ave Maria since the Sun Conference switched to three game series back in 2021.
