MANSFIELD, Texas – The Maryville softball team closed its stay in Mansfield, Texas, with a dominant showing in the finale of the Lone Star Classic. Battling Minnesota State Moorhead, the Saints were relentless at the plate, piling up 13 hits, eight of which went for extra bases, including three home runs.

Laila Ruiz continued her torrid pace, blasting two home runs on a 2-for-4, four-RBI day. Not to be outdone, Jenna Kosnoff added her own long ball, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs. The power surge didn't stop there, as Emily Erb turned in a career performance, going 3-for-3 with two doubles.
 
In the circle, three Saints combined to secure the win, with Cora Boyle, Aubrey Scieszinski and Nora Johnson all seeing action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A first-inning RBI groundout by Ruiz served as just the appetizer for the Saints' offense. In the second frame, Maryville erupted for five runs, all coming via the long ball from Kosnoff and Ruiz.
 
Moorhead answered with a crooked number of its own, plating three runs in the top of the third. Mandi Lenon drove in a run in the bottom half to push the lead to 7-3 before the Saints struck again in the fourth. Olivia Guerrero sliced a double into the right-center gap, scoring Kaitlyn Wagner and Madi McBride to make it 9-3, before Erb followed with an RBI single to push Maryville into double digits.
 
With a new arm in the circle, Kosnoff stayed hot, doubling home Erb to make it 11-3 after four innings. MSU scratched across a run in the top of the fifth, but Ruiz erased any doubt moments later, launching her second homer of the day, and sixth of the tournament, to walk it off.
 
UP NEXT
The Saints are heading to Bentonville, Ark., for their next tournament. Action begins Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m.