COLUMBUS, Miss. -  After City of Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin did his part to launch the 2023 season by delivering the ceremonial "first pitch," the Mississippi University for Women would split its pair of games on Day 1 of the MUW Invitational at Don Usher Field. The Owls (1-1) lost to Covenant College (Ga.), 4-3, and then topped Sewanee, 6-1.
 
In the third game of the day, Covenant squeaked by Sewanee, 8-7.
 
The tourney concludes on Saturday. The threat of weather has had the game times moved ahead to 9 a.m. (Sewanee-Covenant), 11 a.m. (The W-Covenant), and 1 p.m. (The W-Sewanee).
 
In the opener versus Covenant, the Scots plated a run in the top of the first. But the Owls got even in their half of the opening frame, thanks to a ground-out RBI by all-American Riley Phillips that drove in Jessica Deming (2-4) from third.
 
In the MUW second, RBI singles from Anna Sandlin (1-3) and Maddy Suggs (2-3) gave the Owls a 3-1 lead. Unfortunately, The W was unable to create any additional offense.
 
In the fourth, the Scots got to MUW starter Avery Byerley (0-1) for three runs. Bailey McClellan threw three innings of one-hit relief for The W to close the game.
 
In the team's second game versus Sewanee, it was Deming (2-4), Phillips (2-3) and newcomer Faith Ball (2-3) each collecting two hits in their team's 10-hit attack. Deming scored twice and Phillips drove in a pair of runs.
 
Meanwhile, sophomore Rylie Grisham went the distance in the circle for the complete-game win. Grisham scattered four hits and permitted one unearned run for the win. She struck out six and walked three, inducing 12 groundball outs as well.