COLUMBUS, Miss. – Buoyed by its combination of strong pitching and the best offensive display of the young season, the Mississippi University for Women softball team salvaged the series finale over Rhodes College, 8-0, in a five-inning run-rule game. The Owls improved to 2-3 thanks to the win over the Lynx (4-5) at Don Usher Field.
 
(RC swept the opening doubleheader on Saturday, taking advantage of a sluggish MUW attack and its own errors.)
 
"I'm really proud of our approach today," The W Head Coach Buddy Foster said. "The kids made adjustments today offensively that we were unable to make yesterday. Everyone contributed something positive throughout the order.

"We pitched well all weekend and Rylie (Grisham) was fantastic today. When she is on, she feeds our infield ground balls. They made all the plays today."
 
The top half of Fosters order did the bulk of the damage to Rhodes. The Owls' Nos. 1-4 batters had five of the teams' 10 hits, driving in four runs.
 
MUW started its run early, plating three runs in the second inning. Caledonia, Miss., native Maddy Suggs ripped a double down the leftfield line that drove home Emilee Slade and pinch-runner Lilly Harrison to make it 2-0. Jaelynn Palmer's RBI single pushed across Anna Sandlin with the Owls' third tally of the frame.
 
Meanwhile, Grisham set down the first seven Lynx batters she faced before permitting a third-inning single. On the day, Grisham scattered three hits, striking out one and walking one, as she improved her personal season record to 2-0.
 
The W added a three-spot in the third inning, starting with a sacrifice fly by Sandlin that brought home Alysa Newman (1-3). Palmer continued her hot start to 2023 with a two-run single through the left side of the infield that made it 6-0.
 
In the fourth frame, with runners at second and third, Madison Crosby grounded out to second that allowed pinch-runner Abby Schlude to easily score from third. In the bottom of the fifth, Sandlin laced a leadoff double off of the left-field fence and was able to move to third on a wild pitch. With one down, Jessica Deming singled deep to left to score Sandlin and make it 8-0 for the walk-off win.
 
Palmer finished the game going 2-for-2 with three runs batted in. She also had a sacrifice bunt to her credit.
 
Suggs also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
 
The W will next be in action at home next Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series versus Westminster College.