COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women softball got itself back to the .500 plateau by sweeping Southeastern Baptist College in a home doubleheader. The Owls (11-11) took the Chargers by scores of 9-2 and 9-1 at Don Usher Field.
The victories also gave The W the season sweep over SBC, after winning twice in Laurel, Miss., earlier this season.
In game one, after the Chargers picked up an unearned run in the top of the first,
Miranda Nash drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the frame to knot matters at 1-1. A fielder's choice RBI by
Makalyn Cowley gave MUW the lead it would not relinquish, 2-1.
In the Owls' third,
Megan Cummins had an RBI single that plated
Jessica Deming, followed by a run-scoring double off the bat off
Jaelynn Palmer that drove in Cummins. The W would tack on three unearned runs to take a commanding 7-1 lead.
In the visitor half of the fifth, SBC got one back. However, the Owls added a pair in their at-bat in the frame, thanks to an RBI double by Deming and a basses-loaded walk to
Rylie Grisham.
In the circle,
Kaitlyn Parrish (3-5) went 4.0 innings to get the victory. She scattered six hits, allowed the one unearned run, struck out six and did not walk a batter.
Grisham earned picked up a save by working the final three innings. It was her team-leading second save of the season. She had a pair of "Ks" and also gave up just one unearned run.
From the plate, Grisham went 2-for-3 with two runs, an run batted in and a walk to her credit. Palmer also finished game on by batting 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a walk.
Nash, Deming and
Anna Sandlin each drew two walks. As a team, the Owls had a season high of 11 basses on balls issued by the Chargers.
Freshman pitcher
Jade Rushing (1-1) recorded her first college win in game two, thanks to plenty of early run support. Rushing went 3.0 innings of the five-inning affair (shortened by the run rule). Rushing allowed four hits and one run.
Amelia Stalter threw a scoreless 2.0 innings, striking out three batters.
The W's offense staked Rushing to a comfortable 6-1 advantage after just one inning. The Owls got plenty of help from the Chargers in those at-bats, with two runs scoring via wild pitches, two on errors and another by way of a bases-loaded walk.
Macy Nordquist had a sacrifice fly to account for The W's other run.
MUW posted three additional unearned runs in the third inning, for the 9-1 final margin.
Katie Beth Williams finished game two with a 2-for-2 line. She scored once and had one RBI. As a team, the W had just three RBI for its nine runs.
