WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. –
Makalyn Cowley's pinch-hit double in the top of the seventh broke a 5-5 tie and propelled the Mississippi University for Women softball team to an 8-5, come-from-behind, win at Williams Baptist University. The Owls (19-18) plated four runs in their final at-bats versus the Eagles (18-27).
And no one's turn with the bat was as big as Cowley's.
Trailing 5-4 after six frames, MUW was down to its final three outs.
Alysa Newman and
Rylie Grisham opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Then, with one out,
Maiya Joe singled to center and went to second on the throw, as pinch-runner
Anna Sandlin crossed the plate with the tying run and Grisham went to third.
That brought up Cowley with two runners in scoring position and she did not disappoint. Cowley slammed a doubled to left that easily scored both runners, as MUW re-took the lead, 7-5. An RBI single by
Jaelynn Palmer gave The W an insurance run, 8-5.
Cowley has been red hot of late for the Owls. In her last four appearances, Cowley is 4-for-7 with six runs batted in.
MUW appeared to be in cruise control early on, with two runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, Grisham slammed a two-run homer (her second of the season). Then, in the second, an infield single by Newman with the bases loaded drove in a run, followed by a Grisham sacrifice fly that made it 4-0.
The Eagles scored four in their half of the third and another in the sixth to gain the 5-4 advantage heading into the last inning.
Grisham led the Owls both at the plate and in the circle. Grisham went 3-for-3 with three RBI from the clean-up spot in the order. All three of the batters before her in the order –
Jessica Deming (2-5),
Emilee Slade (2-4) and Newman (2-4) – all had multi-hit games, as well.
From the pitching circle, Grisham improved her personal record to 10-6 with her team-leading eighth complete game. Grisham scattered 12 hits and was charged with five runs, just three of which were earned. She struck out four Eagles and walked two.
The two teams will close out the regular season on Saturday (April 29) with a doubleheader. Start time for the twinbill has been pushed back to 1 p.m. due to expected weather issues in Arkansas overnight.
