Normandy, Mo. - The Maryville baseball team split a doubleheader at crosstown rival University of Missouri-St. Louis in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for the teams. The Tritons rallied for a 5-4 win in the opener, while the Saints used the long ball to take game two 7-0.
 
The Tritons took the lead in the top of the third with one run and tacked on two more in the top of the fourth. The Saints got one run back in the bottom of the fourth. Yoonjae Nam doubled and took third on Zack Ruckman's single. Mitch Carriger lifted a sac fly to center field as Nam tallied the first run for the Saints.
 
Maryville jumped ahead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Louis Niemerg reached on a fielder's choice and Garrett Taylor followed with a base hit. Troy Payton singled to left to load the bases. Pinch hitter Evan Reister was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. Nam then reached on a fielder's choice but Payton and Taylor used aggressive baserunning to both score on the play as the Saints went ahead 4-3. However, the Tritons loaded the bases in the eighth inning and a double scored two runs as UMSL retook a 5-4 advantage. The Saints got the potential tying run into scoring position in the eighth and ninth inning but were unable to score.
 
In game two, the Saints only managed two hits but they were both home runs to back the strong effort by starter Robbie Gordon. Sean Murphy started the rally when he was hit by a pitch, and Niemerg drew a walk. Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carriger unloaded them with a grand slam over the wall in right as the Saints jumped to a 4-0 lead. In the third, the Saints again used the long ball for offense. After two straight hit batters, Tyler Catlett drilled a three-run homer to left as the Saints roared to a 7-0 lead. That would be more than enough offense for the Saints pitchers. Gordon, who threw a perfect game in his last outing Sunday, March 13, gave up just four hits and did not allow a run to pick up the victory. Jake Carlsen retired the final three outs of the game.
 
The Saints are now 10-11 on the season, 1-1 in the GLVC. The Tritons stand at 13-4 overall, 1-1 in the league. The teams will play another doubleheader Saturday starting Noon at the UMSL Baseball Field.