KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Maryville softball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play Friday with a split against Rockhurst at Loyola Park. The Hawks took the opener 6-3 before the Saints exploded offensively to claim the nightcap 16-3 in five innings.
GAME 1 | Rockhurst 6, Maryville 3
Rockhurst used a big third inning to take control of the opener and held off the Saints for a 6-3 victory.
After a scoreless start, the Hawks broke through in the third with a pair of runs on a two-RBI single to grab the early advantage. Maryville answered in the fourth when
Addison Koth launched a solo home run to left center to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Rockhurst responded immediately, plating a run in the fourth before extending the lead further in the fifth on a two-run homer.
The Saints chipped away late.
Leah Perales doubled in the fifth and later scored on a
Jenna Kosnoff RBI single to make it 3-2. Maryville added another run in the sixth when Koth doubled and eventually came home on an error, but Rockhurst countered with an insurance run in the bottom half to secure the win.
Koth led the Saints offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored. Kosnoff and Perales also had two hits each as Maryville finished with eight hits.
GAME 2 | Maryville 16, Rockhurst 3 (5 inn.)
Maryville jumped ahead early when Koth blasted a three-run homer in the first inning to put the Saints in front 3-0. Rockhurst tied the contest with a three-run third, but the Saints quickly reclaimed the lead when Kosnoff crushed a solo homer in the fourth.
The game broke open in the fifth. Maryville sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 12 runs in the frame, highlighted by another three-run homer from Koth and a grand slam from Kosnoff to push the lead to 16-3.
Kosnoff delivered a monster performance, finishing with six RBIs and two home runs, while Koth matched her with six RBIs and two homers of her own.
Laila Ruiz added two hits and two RBIs, and
Emily Erb collected three hits.
In the circle,
Nora Johnson picked up the win, allowing three runs over five innings while striking out five.
UP NEXT
Maryville continues GLVC play tomorrow in Liberty, Mo. for a doubleheader against the William Jewell Cardinals.
