DuBOIS, Penn. – Mississippi University for Women's softball team has earned a chance to play for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) championship, after winning three games on Wednesday to advance through the elimination bracket. The No. 9-seeded Owls' (25-19) improbable road to the finals included Wednesday win-or-go-home victories over No. 1-seed Florida National University (4-2), No. 7-seed D'Youville University (14-10), and No. 4-seed Salem University (8-2) at Heindl Field.
 
In Thursday's championship, The W will take on No. 2-seed Penn State-Brandywine. MUW will have to win twice over the Lions, who have yet to lose. PSUB will be playing just its fourth game of the USCAA championships versus MUW. Conversely, the Owls will be playing their eighth game, and a possible ninth, to have a chance to win the title.
 
In the first game of the day, at noon local time, the Owls knocked out the tourney's No. 1-seed – and defending back-to-back USCAA champions – Florida National University. MUW got single runs in the first, second, fourth, and fifth frames to end the Conquistadors' (22-21) season.
 
Sophomore Rylie Grisham threw her 10th complete game in improving her personal record to 14-7. Grisham allowed eight hits and the two earned runs to FNU. She was also 1-for-4 from the plate.
 
Senior Riley Phillips had the big bat for the Owls, going 3-for-4. For the second day in a row, Phillips slammed a first-inning home run to give her team the early advantage and also smacked a double.
 
Junior outfielder Alysa Newman was 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and a run batted in. Senior – and Caledonia High School product – Maddy Suggs was the only other Owl with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3, with a run scored.
 
MUW out-hit the Conquistadors by a 10-8 margin.
 
That set the Owls up versus a familiar USCAA foe in D'Youville (19-28). DU had eliminated The W from the USCAA championships in each of the previous two seasons. And it looked like a third bump by the Saints might be materializing after jumping out to a 6-0 lead over MUW after just two innings.
 
But in the top of the third, The W exploded for eight runs and took the lead it would not relinquish. In the big inning, MUW sent 14 batters to the plate. The Owls produced nine hits, drew a walk and had two hit batters.
 
The Owls had a USCAA single-game record total of 20 hits as a team. Madison Crosby led the assault by going 4-for-5, with a run scored. Leadoff batter Jessica Deming was 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored.
 
Thirdbaseman Jaelynn Palmer (2-2, RBI), designated player Grisham (2-5, RBI), infielder Maiya Joe (2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI), catcher Emilee Slade (2-3, 4 runs, RBI), and centerfielder Suggs (2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI) all had multi-hit efforts.
 
Newman, Crosby, and Joe each had doubles in the win.
 
Avery Byerley (5-4) got the victory with 6.0 innings in relief of starter Jade Rushing.
 
The W's marathon day continued versus Salem University in the evening game. The Owls' hot bats continued versus the Tigers (21-30), scoring single runs in the first three innings. In the first, Crosby drew a bases-loaded walk, Deming stroked an RBI single in the second and Grisham (1-3) blasted a solo homer in the third.
 
Salem got a pair back in their half of the third, to make it 3-2. But MUW put the game out of reach with two in the fifth and three in the sixth, on its way to a 10-hit day.
 
Deming had another stellar day with the bat, going 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. She also scored once.
 
Newman was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Ashton Farnell went 2-for-3, with a double and a run. Crosby had a 1-for-3 game, driving in two and scoring once.
 
Bailey McClellan started the game and went 2.1 innings. McClellan allowed both runs (just one earned), before Grisham came on with one out in the third and retired the side. Grisham's line in improving to 15-7, was 4.2 innings, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout.