SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In its return to road-action, the Maryville softball split with Illinois Springfield, winning game two 6-1 after dropping a 3-0 tilt in game one. 

Cora Boyle helped herself in a big way in game two, going 2-4 from the plate with two RBIs. That built upon her complete game victory where she allowed just one run on five hits while punching out seven, moving the freshman to 9-6 on the season. 

The seven Ks marks the second-straight game where Boyle has met that total, falling one shy of her career and season best of eight which she set against William Jewell on March 9.

GAME 1 | UIS 3, Maryville 0
Superior UIS pitching prevailed in game one as the Prairie Stars' starter tossed a one-hit shutout. The only other blemish on her record being two walks, drawn by Emily Corona and Isabella Garcia. Boyle was the lone Saint to record a hit. 

GAME 2 | Maryville 6, UIS 1
Just like against McKendree, the Saints needed a pitching response in game two and got it big time from Boyle. 

After both teams scored in the first, with the Saints run coming from Boyle herself, the freshman locked in, recording a clean second frame. The offense came to shine in the third. Garcia led off the frame with a double that ignited a barrel party as Addsion Koth singled, and Boyle doubled to give the Saints the lead. 

Miranda Bondurant, Cailynn Gdowski, Payton Deakin and Jenna Kosnoff all recorded RBIs as the inning progressed, leaving it 6-1. 

Now with a lead to her back, the freshman from Iowa cooked the Prairie Stars lineup, facing the minimum in the fourth, fifth and the sixth, while stranding a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh for the win. 

UP NEXT
The Saints now have a rare Monday doubleheader in Indianapolis. Maryville will battle the UIndy Greyhounds on Monday at 11 a.m. for game one of the doubleheader at Baumgartner Field.