JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Maryville softball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) doubleheader with Lincoln (Mo.) on Saturday, taking game one 8-6 before falling 3-1 in the finale.
Laila Ruiz snapped a homerless streak in game one, as the Saints tallied six doubles and seven total extra-bases hits to win the opening slugfest. Game two saw the bats go cold until the fifth, with
Mandi Lenon leading all Saints with a 2-3 game, with an RBI and a double in a game Lincoln took 3-1.
GAME 1 | Maryville 8, Lincoln 6
After trading runs early, the Saints broke things open with a five-run third. RBI knocks from multiple bats highlighted the frame, including a two-run single from
Leah Perales and run-scoring hits from
Jenna Kosnoff and Lenon to build a 6-2 lead.Â
Lincoln chipped away, tying the game at 6-6 with a three-run fifth, but Maryville answered immediately in the sixth. Ruiz delivered the decisive blow, launching a two-run homer to center to put the Saints back in front for good. That longball by Ruiz was her first since March 3 in the Saints win over Parkside, ending an 11 game slide.Â
Aubrey Scieszinski earned the win in relief, tossing 5.1 innings while limiting damage down the stretch.Â
Maryville totaled 14 hits in the win, with Kosnoff, Lenon, Ruiz,
Emily Erb and
Payton Deakin all recording multi-hit performances.
GAME 2 | Lincoln 3, Maryville 1
Despite outhitting the Blue Tigers, the Saints could not convert on the sweep on the road. Lincoln struck early with a two-run first inning and never relinquished the lead.Â
Maryville broke through in the fifth when
Mandi Lenon doubled home
Payton Deakin to cut the deficit to 2-1.Â
However, Lincoln responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on a pair of defensive miscues to add an insurance run. The Saints threatened late, putting a runner in scoring position in the seventh, but couldn't push a run across.Â
Cora Boyle went the distance in the circle, allowing just two earned runs while striking out three.Â
UP NEXT
The Saints return to the field tomorrow, heading back home to St. Louis, playing at UMSL in Normandy, Mo. tomorrow for another twin bill.Â
Â