MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Mississippi University for Women's softball team split its first two games on the team's spring break trip. The Owls (8-4) lost their opener to Lycoming College, 2-0, before bouncing back versus Stevenson University, 4-2, at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex.
 
In game one, MUW starter Rylie Grisham (3-1) locked horns with Lycoming (2-0), going 5.1 innings and scattering five hits and just one earned run. She struck out two and did not walk a batter in absorbing the loss after the Warriors plated single runs in the third and sixth innings.
 
Despite amassing just four hits, the Owls had their best chance to get into the game in the visitor's half of the fifth inning. Alysa Newman (1-3) led off the frame with a double to center. Reagan Newell (1-3) followed with a single, and then stole second, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with none out. But two pop-outs and a ground out – all to shortstop – quelled MUW's hopes.
 
Maiya Joe (1-3) and Grisham (1-2) accounted for the other two hits by The W.
 
In game two of the morning, MUW looked like it might be headed toward the same fate versus Stevenson (1-3) after the Mustangs scored twice in the second and then made it stand up until the bottom of the fifth. At that point, the Owls responded with their first offense of the day.
 
Anna Sandlin (1-3) laced a one-out double. Then, with two out, Deming singled to move Sandlin to third. A passed ball allowed Sandlin to trot home and Deming to advance to second, making it 3-1. A walk to Taylor Palmer (0-2) put the go-ahead run on base and brought Riley Phillips (1-3) at the plate.
 
Phillips smacked an RBI single that knotted the game at 2-2 and moved Palmer to third base. On the throw to the infield, Phillips made a wide turn at first to draw the Mustangs' attention. When SU made an effort to get Phillips, a rundown ensued and Palmer alertly broke for home, making a textbook head-first slide to avoid the tag attempt and put The W on top, 3-2.   
 
MUW added some insurance with an unearned run in the sixth for the final 4-2 score.
 
Senior Avery Byerley was magnificent from the circle, throwing the complete-game victory. Byerley struck out four Mustangs and did not walk a batter, permitting just three hits. Just one of the runs tallied against her was earned, as Byerley evened her record at 1-1 for 2024.
 
The W will play a pair of games again on Tuesday in Myrtle Beach, facing The College of New Jersey at 10 a.m. (CT) and the University of Maine-Presque Isle at 12:30 p.m. (CT).