CONWAY, Ark. – Freshman Rylie Grisham shined for the Mississippi University for Women – both in the circle and with the bat – to lead her team to a pair of Sunday victories at the Hendrix Invitational. The Owls (9-9) climbed back to the .500 level, thanks to their 10-7 win over the University of the Ozarks and, 8-5, over host Hendrix College in eight innings.
 
In the twinbill, Grisham – a native of Athens, Ala. (East Limestone High School) – earned her first save of the season in game one, was the winning pitcher in game two, threw 5.0 innings of relief, struck out three and walked just one. From the plate, Grisham amassed a 4-for-5 day, driving in seven runs, scoring once, with a walk, a double and a home run.
 
In game one of the day versus Ozarks, The W took a 10-7 win that looked – and ended up - much closer than it should have. Especially considering that the Owls had bases loaded situations in five of the game's seven innings (first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings).
 
The W broke out big from the outset with a five-run first frame. With one out and the bases full of Owls, Jessica Deming had an RBI single that drove in Lauren Duckworth with the first run of the day. That was followed by a two-run single from Grisham, an RBI single from by Anna Sandlin and a sacrifice fly RBI off the bat of catcher Ashton Farnell.
 
The Eagles added two runs in each the third and fifth to draw to within a 5-4 score and chase The W starter Amelia Stalter (4-3). Grisham took over duties in the circle and limited the damage.
 
In its half of the sixth, the Owls added a pair of runs. Megan Cummins hit a bases-loaded blooper down the right-field line to score one. Two batters later, Grisham drew a bases-loaded walk that made it 7-4.
 
Then in the top of the seventh, MUW put three "insurance" runs on the board which, as it turned out, proved to be a good policy decision. With one out, Deming's bases-loaded single drove home two and another RBI single from Grisham made it 10-4.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the first four Ozarks' batters all hit safely, producing three runs before an out was recorded. But with one out, Grisham induced a pair of fielder's choice ground outs to preserve the victory and earn her the Owls' first save as a team this season.
 
Both teams managed 12 hits in the contest. Deming was 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and Grisham 2-for-4 with her four "ribbies." Riley Phillips was 2-for-3.
 
The top three batters in the Owls' order – Kaylee Quimby, Duckworth and Phillips – each scored twice, as well.
 
In the second game of the day versus Hendrix, the Owls found themselves down 2-0 after the first inning. However, Makalyn Cowley began her big game with an RBI single to left in the top of the second that cut the margin to 2-1.
 
A Warriors' run in the home half of the third again made it a two-run deficit, 3-1, before some more Cowley heroics in The W's fourth. Cowley spanked a two-RBI double to left-center, that plated both Katelyn Hicks and Deming and knotted the game at 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Hendrix was able to get another run off of MUW starter Kaitlyn Parrish. Parrish – who had not allowed the Warriors a run since the third – was able to close out the inning with her team only down by one, 4-3, heading into the final at-bats of regulation.
 
Hendrix retired the first two Owls in the seventh. Down to its final out, MUW Head Coach Buddy Foster sent Grisham up to bat for Quimby. Grisham jumped all over an offering from HC ace Hailey Johnston, sending the ball over the centerfield fence and – after Grisham held the Warriors at bay from the circle in the bottom of the inning – sent the contest to extra innings.
 
With the International Tie-Breaker in effect, Macy Nordquist was placed at second base for The W. With one out, Jaelynn Palmer drew a walk. That was followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Sandlin and pinch-hitter Miranda Nash. With the score 6-4, Cowley reached on an error to load the bases.
 
Katie Beth Williams popped up for the second out of the inning, bringing Grisham to the dish. Grisham promptly drilled a 3-1 pitch off the left-field fence, giving the Owls an 8-4 advantage.
 
Hendrix would get its tie-breaker runner home, thanks to a fielding error. But that was the extent of the damage, as Grisham closed down the hosts and booked the 8-5 win by The W.
 
Cowley went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in for game two. Grisham was 2-for-2, with a run and four RBI in game two.
 
The loss was just the second of the season for Hendrix (13-2). It was also the first time in 2022 that the Warriors had lost a game on their home field.
 
"Obviously we are thrilled to go and win two on the road today," Foster said. "We had some freshmen come up big for us in game two to lead us. (Kaitlyn Parrish) had a really good start in game two that kept the game close and allowed for our comeback. I am proud of the grit we showed today."