Lebanon, Ill. - The Maryville softball team swept a Sunday doubleheader at McKendree to extend its winning streak to 10 games, the longest since the 2000 season. The Saints held on for a 5-4 victory in game one and shut out the Bearcats 4-0 to complete the sweep.
 
In the top of the first, Bri Livingston walked and Nikki Taylor doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Alex Flasch drilled a two-run double to put the Saints ahead. The Bearcats answered with two in the bottom of the first before Maryville again took the lead. Taylor singled, and Wendy Macias doubled. Flasch again came through with an RBI single for a 3-2 lead. McKendree answered with a single run in the home half of the third. The Saints scored the winning runs in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Syd Tockman walked before Ashley Marks launched a two-run homer for the eventual game winner. McKendree pulled one run back in the bottom of the seventh but the Saints held on.
 
Taylor started game two in the circle and dominated the Bearcat lineup. She did not allow a hit over 4-1/3 innings before McKendree finally recorded its first hit. The game was still scoreless before the Saints scored the only run they would need. Marks singled and Hope Miller put down a sac bunt. Tockman again came into the game as a pinch hitter and delivered an RBI single. The Saints sealed the win with three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Marks hit a solo home run prior to an RBI sac bunt by Tockman and an RBI double by Courtney Ferguson.
 
The Saints are off to the best start in program history and are 19-3 overall, 7-1 in the GLVC. The Bearcats slip to 9-17, 3-5 in the league.