MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Mississippi University for Women wrapped up its eight-game spring trip to Myrtle Beach by splitting its final two games on Friday. The Owls (12-6) lost to Ithaca College, 4-2, and then run-ruled Franciscan University, 8-0, in the finale.
 
In game one on of Friday's Myrtle Beach finale, The W battled NCAA III perennial power Ithaca College strong, actually holding a 2-0 lead early. Alysa Newman (2-3) drove in the first run of the day with an RBI double in the second. The Owls added an unearned run in the third.
 
Newman had 10 hits for The W on the trip, playing in seven games.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Bombers (6-3) tallied twice to knot matters at 2-2. Ithaca added single runs in the fifth and sixth off MUW starter Rylie Grisham.
 
Grisham (5-1) and IC starter Anna Cornell (5-0) both entered the game with unbeaten records, with both dueling their entire stints. Grisham went 5.0 innings, walked one and struck out six Bombers, while allowed just two earned runs. Cornell had a complete game and just one earned run allowed, striking out nine Owls.
 
Versus the Barons (0-8), neither team could break into the scoring column until the Owls plated three in the third inning. The opening salvo was sparked by Faith Ball's RBI triple the drove home Riley Phillips with the first run of the game. Abby Sclhude and Laikyn Wright followed with run-scoring singles.
 
MUW added an unearned run in the fourth. In the fifth, Ball scored on a wild pitch. Macy Nordquist then laced an RBI single, followed by a two-run triple by Kaitlyn Bearley to make it 8-0 and end the game.
 
Wright finished the game going 3-for-3, driving in a run and scoring another. Ball was 2-for-2 with two runs and the RBI. Madison Crosby (2-3) also has two hits and scored once.
 
Jade Rushing threw 4.0 innings of one-hit ball to improve her personal record to 3-1 in 2023. Avery Byerley faced four batters in the fifth to close out the win.