KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Saint Mary softball team earned their first win of the season in a doubleheader split with College of Saint Mary Sunday afternoon, on the campus of Avila University. The Spires fell in the first contest 9-5, but found a spark in the second contest to defeat the Flames 9-1 – leading to a run-rule victory in five innings.

The Spires are now 1-5 overall on the season.

GAME 1
Saint Mary (Neb.) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, which led the Spires to make a pitching change. The Spires would chip in their first run of the game when Carmen Cordova scored on an error by the Flames. Saint Mary then posted a four run frame in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. Hailey Reece would score on a walk by the Flames before Cordova singled down the right field line to score Riley Piattoni. The Flames then walked in two more runs in the inning leading to the advantage for the Spires.

Sierra Gerdts threw a strong four and two-thirds innings in relief before being lifted in the sixth inning. College of Saint Mary would add two runs in the sixth to bring the Spires' lead to one run. Things would later get away from Saint Mary in the seventh as the Flames posted a four spot eventually completing the comeback.

Allyson Stolte led the team with two RBI in the first game.

GAME 2
The Spires would put the first game behind them and stormed out of the gate with a three run spot in the first inning of game two. Piattoni scored on a single from Victoria Gutierrez, who would later score on a big double from Cordova. After Stolte reached base on a walk, Madisyn Thompson singled up the middle to score Cordova as the Spires led 3-0. The Spires continued the momentum in the second inning by going up 8-0 after two innings.

Another run in the third inning led to a 9-0 lead as the Spires road to the run-rule victory.

Mariela Tinoco only needed five innings to earn the win in the circle, while allowing just four hits and one run. Cordova had a team high two hits, while Thompson added two RBI.

UP NEXT
Saint Mary travels to Marshall, Mo. on Wednesday to take on Missouri Valley with the doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.