MARION, Ill. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat Parkside, 5-4 in nine innings on the final day of the Oasis DII Collegiate Classic at the Oasis Sports Complex in Marion, Ill. The Tritons improve to 6-12 while the Rangers fall to 3-8.

Parkside jumped to the early lead scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. Isabel Aranda drove home the first run with a single to center and then Megan Medlin grounded out to short scoring Elodie Sullivan. The third run of the frame scored on Mia Johnson's RBI double to right field.

UMSL got two run of those runs back in the next half inning. May Pasqualini started the rally with a double down the left field line and went to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. Gracie Philpot brought home Pasqualini with a slow roller to first as the first baseman tried to throw Pasqualini out the plate but was too late. Philpot stole second and then scored on Kaytie Kossina's single to center.

The Tritons tied the score in the fifth as Kossina scored on a wild pitch.

It remained tied heading into extra innings as the game went to the international tie-breaker rule. Madison Rozanski started the inning at second, went to third on Jamie Widule's sacrifice bunt and scored on Pasqualini's two-out single back up the middle.

The Rangers tied it in the home half of the eighth as Reese Valha brought home Kendall Woods with a sacrifice fly to send the game to the ninth.

Philpot started as the runner on second in the ninth, stole third and scored on Sasha Buckberger's single up the middle giving UMSL a 5-4 lead.

Parkside had a chance to it in the bottom of the frame but couldn't move the runner of second as Buckberger retired the final three hitters to earn her first victory of the season.

UMSL outhit the Rangers 9-5 in the contest and were led by Pasqualini with three hits while Kossina and Keira Hayton added two hits each. Ashley Ware got the start in the circle giving up three runs on three hits in four innings pitched. Buckberger went the final five giving up an unearned run of two hits with five strikeouts.

The Tritons host Purdue Northwest in a doubleheader next Saturday for its home opener starting at 2 p.m. at the UMSL Softball Field.