MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In the words of a Memphis music icon, Mississippi University for Women softball had its opponents "All Shook Up" in Sunday's finale of the Rhodes Invitational. The Owls (7-3) had a pair of come-from-behind victories over Austin College, 8-6, and host Rhodes, 3-2.
MUW completed the Rhodes tourney with a 2-2 mark, after dropping both of Saturday's games to those same two teams.
But Sunday was all Owls, beginning with the win over Austin College. MUW jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Kangaroos after one inning and pitcher
Avery Byerley made that stand up. At least until the fifth inning, that is, when AC plated four runs to wrest the lead from the Owls.
In its half of the fifth, MUW managed three runs of its own, going ahead 6-4, only to have the Kangaroos hop into a 6-6 tie in the sixth.
Taylor Palmer's sacrifice foul out fly ball allowed
Emilee Slade to trot home with the go-ahead run.
Maiya Joe slapped an RBI single that made it 8-6.
In the top of the seventh, Austin College got a two-out double to bring the potential tying run to the plate. But
Rylie Grisham – who had come on in relief of Byerley in the sixth – induced a grounder to third to close out the win. Neither MUW hurler issued a walk in the contest.
Joe went 3-for-4, with a double, and a pair of runs batted in as the only Owl with multiple hits. Teammate
Jessica Deming was 1-for-2 with a double, as well. Slade (1-3) also had a double, as well as two stolen bases.
Anna Sandlin went 1-for-3 and drove n a pair of runs, as well.
In the tournament's final game, the Owls got another dose of late-inning magic that turned into a win. Both teams were cruising along in a 0-0 tie for the first five innings, with Grisham keeping Rhodes at bay from the circle. But the Lynx finally got to the Owls' all-American in the bottom of the sixth fr ma pair of runs.
With its back against the wall heading into the final frame,
Jessica Deming led off with a double and advanced to third when Palmer reached via a throwing error by shortstop.
Riley Phillips then cranked a two-run double that knotted the game at 2-2.
With two out, Joe doubled to trade places with Phillips and plate the go-ahead run, 3-2.
Baylee McWilliams was called on to close out the Lynx in their half of the seventh. McWilliams was greeted with a leadoff double, but settled down to retire the next three batters and strand the potential tying run at third base.
Grisham improved to 3-0 with the win, striking out five and walking one. McWilliams earned her first collegiate save.
Once again, Joe (2-4) was the lone Owls with multiple hits in the game, to go along with one RBI.
MUW will be off until March 11, when it travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for an eight-game spring trip that will last through March 15.
