Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women took the wraps off of its 2024 team with Friday's season-opening games in its own MUW Invitational. The Owls (1-1) got off on the right foot with a 6-2 win over Covenant College, before losing a hard-fought decision, 2-1, at the hands of Sewanee.
 
The victory over Covenant was also the first as a head college coach for MUW's Rebecca Oldham. Oldham is in her first season at the helm of Th W, after two years as an assistant with the program.
 
Senior all-American shortstop Jessica Deming picked up where she left off last season. Versus the Scots, Deming went 3-for-3 with two runs and two runs batted in from her leadoff perch for the Owls. Deming also walked once and had three stolen bases.
 
As a matter-of-fact, MUW's Nos. 1-5 hitters collected even of the Owls' hits and had all six RBI. Among the hit parade was Riley Phillip's two-run home run in the third frame and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Rylie Grisham, a junior and the Owls' third returning all-American from 2023, earned the win in the circle. While Grisham didn't have her best stuff in the opener – she walked four and scattered five hits – her five solid innings kept the Scots in check.
 
In the loss to Sewanee, MUW freshman Baylee McWilliams pitched beyond her years. McWilliams went a complete seven innings, permitted six hits and one earned run.
 
The Owl were held to just two hits: a double by Deming and a single by Kaitlyn Bearley.
 
The MUW Invitational continues on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. at Don Usher Field, with five games on tap. The W will play the two late games at 4 and 6 p.m.