SEWANEE, Tenn. – After seeing the first game of the day get away, the Mississippi University for Women softball team uncorked some power in game two and gain a split at Sewanee: The University of the South, at Tigers Field. The Owls lost the opener, 8-3, but had a season-high 16 hits to win the nightcap, 13-2 in six innings.
 
In game one, Rylie Grisham's (1-2) sacrifice fly drove home Jessica Deming (1-4) in the first inning. It would be The W's only lead of the game. Sewanee scored twice in its half of the first, once each in the third and fourth, and iced matters with a four-run fourth.
 
Emilee Slade (1-4) laced a two-run double in the fifth that made the score 4-3 at the time.
 
Jade Rushing (3-4) threw a complete game in the loss. She gave up 11 hits and the eight runs, only three of which were earned thanks to a pair of Owls' errors.
 
In the second game, MUW regrouped in a big way. The 16 hits ranked as the fifth-most in a single game in the modern era of The W softball. The team also slugged a single-game record five home runs in the contest.
 
Makalyn Cowley had the big stick working, belting two of the homers. Jessica Deming, Ashton Farnell, and Grisham each had one roundtripper, apiece.
 
Deming and Grisham were both 3-for-4 in the win. Grisham drove in three and Deming had one RBI. Farnell and Cowley each had 2-for-4 games, with each driving in three runs, apiece.
 
Maddy Suggs (2-4) and Maiya Joe (2-4) also had multi-hit games for The W. Joe, Deming, and Farnell each had doubles to give the Owls a total of eight extra-base hits in the contest.
 
In the circle, Grisham (7-6) threw all six frames, scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs. She struck out three and did not walk a batter, in heading off her own six-game losing streak from the circle, as well.
 
And the big win may have been just what the doctor ordered in other ways, as well. The victory snapped an 11-game Owls' losing skein dating back to March 25. Seeing its USCAA ranking fall from No. 5 to No. 10 in that span, The W will look to get back its momentum in search of a four-consecutive USCAA post-season bid.
 
The Owls will stay on the road for a Monday doubleheader at Covenant College in Georgia.