SARASOTA, Fla. - The Banyans won their first game of the series against the Ave Maria Gyrenes after a walk-off home run from Saremi Flores.

Heading into the match up, the Banyans held a 5-4 conference record. The visiting Gyrenes stood right behind them in the Sun-Conference rankings with a 4-5 record. 

New College was down by as many as four runs at the top of the third inning, but a collaborative effort between the offense and defense allowed the Banyans to battle back. Catcher Saremi Flores sparked the comeback with a three run homer to get the game within a single run. The two teams exchanged blows for six innings before finding themselves deadlocked at 6 runs apiece headed to the seventh. 

The Banyan defense, led by relief pitcher Sydney Rich, was able to keep the Gyrene offense at bay to give their team a chance to win in the bottom of the inning. Samantha Suarez was able to get herself on base with a single, before Flores took the plate and hit her second home run of the game to win it 8-6. 

Flores was at the top of the Banyan stat sheet with three runs and five RBIs. Behind her was Samantha Suarez with two runs and two hits. Senior pitcher Jayleigh Totten pitched six of the seven innings and tallied five strikeouts. Rich pitched the final inning only allowing one hit. 

The Banyans will return to action on March 26th for the remainder of the Sun-Conference series in a double header against the Ave Maria Gyrenes.