ST. LOUIS – Alex Hoff went 5-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI on Thursday afternoon to lead Maryville baseball past McKendree University with a 14-10 final.
 
McKendree Recap
Similar to their start in the comeback victory over Missouri S&T on April 12, the Saints found themselves in another early hole. The Bearcats hit a three-run blast in each of the first two innings to jump ahead 6-0.
 
Maryville responded in the bottom of the third. Dominic Connolly started the rally with a solo home run to center field continued later by Alex Hoff's two-run home run.
 
Now down 6-3, Andy Bunton laid down a bunt to advance the runners, but a wild throw from the third baseman brought in two runs. The Saints brought the tying run in on another Bearcat error and took the lead on Brad Willis' sacrifice fly.
 
McKendree tied it in the top of the fourth, but Hoff's second home run of the game in the bottom half restored the home lead. Still clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Hoff ripped a leadoff double, stole third, and came in to score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to two.
 
The slugfest continued in the eighth with back-to-back home runs from McKendree's three and four hitters to knot the game at nine. Joey Polak quickly untied the game in the bottom half with a two-RBI double to right-center field. Hoff ripped his third home run of the game three batters later to bust the lead wide open at 14-9.
 
After allowing a run in the top of the ninth and the tying run on deck, the Saints called upon reliever Ben Prywitch. The Chesterfield, Missouri native got the first batter he saw to fly out to center field to secure the win and his second save of the year.

 
Winning Pitcher: Nolan Miller (4-1)
Losing Pitcher: Evan Spears (0-4)
Save: Ben Prywitch (2) 
 
 
Hitting Leaders:
Alex Hoff: 5-for-5, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2 SB
Dominic Connolly: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, SB
Michael Gould: 3-for-5, R, 2 SB
  
Records:
Maryville: 19-15, 8-5 GLVC
McKendree: 11-20, 6-7 GLVC
  
What's Next?
The series continues as the Saints take on the Bearcats in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m.