Normandy, Mo. - Wendy Macias smashed a three-run homer in the top of the third to boost the Maryville softball team to a 3-1 victory over Missouri-St. Louis in the opening game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. The victory keeps the Saints in the winner's bracket of the Midwest Regional #2, and Maryville takes on Wayne State at Noon Friday at the UMSL Softball Field. This is the first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance by the Saints.
 
On the first pitch in the bottom of the first, Erin Walker launched a solo homer to give the Tritons the early 1-0 lead. In the top of the third, the Saints worked two walks from UMSL All-American pitcher Hannah Perryman. Kelsey Martin started the inning with a free pass, and Ashley Marks also induced a walk. With two outs on a 3-1 count, Macias hammered a three-run homer to left field as the Saints surged ahead 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth with one on, the Tritons used two straight hits and put runners on the corner. Nikki Taylor got a ground ball that Alex Flasch grabbed, touched second base and fired over to first for the inning-ending double play. The Tritons threatened with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Flasch tracked down a grounder and retired the lead runner. Taylor then got a punch out to end the threat.
 
The Tritons used a double and an RBI single to trim the Maryville lead down to 3-2 in the sixth inning. With a runner still in scoring position, Taylor again recorded a strikeout as the Saints maintained their 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, Erin Walker singled but was forced out at second base for the first out. Taylor got a pop up to short that Flasch corralled and a strikeout to end the game. Taylor notched five strikeouts and surrendered just the two runs to record her 16th win of the season.
 
The Saints, who are the No. 7 seed, improve to 38-14 on the season and handed Perryman just her fifth loss of the season. The Tritons, the number two seed, drop to 52-8 overall. No. 3 seed Wayne State defeated No. 6 seed Truman State 3-1 and improved to 48-8 on the year.