COLUMBUS, Miss. - Mississippi University for Women softball split its home doubleheader versus LaGrange College in its final games before beginning St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) play next weekend. The Owls (14-8) lost the opener to the Panthers (8-18), 9-3, before taking the second game, 8-3, at Don Usher Field.
 
MUW never led in the first game of the Sunday matinee, falling behind 6-1 after 3 ½ innings. The W cut the deficit to 6-3 in their half of the fourth, thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Emilee Slade (1-3) that plated Baylee McWilliams (1-2), with the other runners advancing, as well. One of those, Taylor Palmer (1-1) went to third and, when the Panthers' pitcher turned her back after receiving the ball, Palmer alertly broke for home to score the second run of the inning.
 
But LaGrange added three in the sixth to squash any Owls' comeback hopes.
 
McWilliams (2-2) absorbed the loss for MUW. McWilliams allowed 10 hits and four earned runs during her 2.2 inning stint. Avery Byerley threw the final 4.1 innings.
 
In the second game, MUW pitcher Rylie Grisham improved to 5-1 on the year with her second complete game of the season. Grisham scattered six hits by the Panthers and stuck out three. All three runs by LaGrange were unearned.
 
Grisham helped herself with the bat, as well, going 1-for-2 with an RBI double.
 
Teammate Riley Phillips was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Alysa Newman was 2-for-4, scoring twice.
 
The Owls will host its first-ever SLIAC league games net Saturday (March 30/11 a.m.) at on Usher Field.