MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Strong pitching efforts across the board proved to be the order of the day, as the Mississippi University for Women's softball team split a pair of games – both by 1-0 scores - to close out its spring break trip. The Owls (11-7) opened the day with a walk-off win over Gwynedd Mercy University (3-7) in eight innings, before dropping their finale to the University of Scranton (9-2).
 
Junior all-American Ryle Grisham threw all 8.0 innings versus GMU to improved her record from the circle to 4-1 on the year. Grisham scattered three hits by the Griffins. She walked just two and struck out six.
 
Her GMU counterpart Jocelyn Bauermaister was equally effective versus the Owls' offense, permitting three hits and striking out eight. But a scoreless draw through seven frames of regulation put MUW in its second-consecutive extra-inning affair.
 
The Griffins opened the top of the eighth by sacrificing the placed runner to third base. Then, with one out, Shylynn Cordero hit a grounder to The W shortstop Jessica Deming. Deming fielded the ball cleanly and alertly threw behind Izzy LaPerry at third, catching her off the bag for the second out and erasing the lead runner. A grounder to short ended the GMU at-bats and left the score tied.
 
Kaitlyn Bearley took second as MUW's placed runner to begin the bottom of the eighth for the Owls. Grisham laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Bearley to third. That brought up Ashton Farnell, last night's heroine with the game-winning single versus Keene State.
 
With apologies to Britney Spears, Oops!...She did it again!
 
Farnell looped a 1-2 pitch from Bauermeister, that dropped in toward the leftfield line. That easily permitted Bearley to trot home with the winning run, 1-0.
 
Farnell had two of MUW's three hits in the game.
 
In The W's spring trip capper, it was Jade Rushing (0-1) locking horns with the University of Scranton ace, Juliana Janezic (4-0). Rushing responded with one of her best outings as an Owl, notching the complete game. Versus the Royals, Rushing scattered seven hits and permitted just a second inning run on a sacrifice fly, closing with four shutout frames against a tough US lineup.
 
Unfortunately for Rushing and her Owls' teammates, The W was not able to string any of their six hits on the day together. MUW's best opportunity came in the third inning when, with two out, Deming cracked a triple to right-center, but was stranded at third.
 
MUW put two runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings, as well as the leadoff batter in the seventh. But in all three situations, the Owls would come up empty.
 
Reagan Newell was 2-for-3 versus Scranton, the lone MUW batter with multiple hits.
 
The W returns to action on Thursday (March 21), hosting Hendrix College in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Don Usher Field.