The Maryville softball team challenged No. 3 ranked Missouri-St. Louis but the Tritons proved worthy of their national ranking and swept both games of a doubleheader 8-5 and 5-0 Wednesday afternoon.
 
In the first game, Nikki Taylor homered to center field off UMSL All-American Hannah Perryman for an early 1-0 lead. After the Tritons tied the game in the top of the third, the Saints answered with another blast as Krystal Rock cranked a two-run shot to left to push Maryville back ahead 3-1. UMSL brought Brittni Chapman in to take over in the circle and took its first lead of the game with a two-run homer and RBI double for a 4-3 edge. In the bottom of the fifth, the Saints tied the score at 4-all when Meredith Brown singled and eventually scored on Taylor's RBI double. Maryville went ahead in the sixth for its final lead of the game. Courtney Ferguson reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Alex Flasch's single. Brown hit a sharp single that bounced off UMSL pitcher Chapman's leg and caromed into short right field. Ferguson alertly sprinted home for a 5-4 lead. However, the Tritons smacked three homers in the top of the seventh for the decisive burst and take the first contest.
 
The second game featured Perryman finding her form and allowing just one hit while notching 13 strikeouts to key the win for UMSL. The Saints had their best scoring chance in the bottom of the second. Ashley Marks drew a leadoff walk, and Sheridon Sprague lashed a single up the middle to put two runners on. The Saints were unable to bring home a run as UMSL worked out of the jam. Jenna Boudreau hit a solo home run for the only run UMSL would need. UMSL added four more long balls and kept the Saints offense at bay.
 
The Saints dip to 7-20 overall, 4-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Tritons improve to 27-3 overall, 12-2 in the league. Maryville plays a rescheduled doubleheader Wednesday at Lindenwood starting at 3 p.m.