COLUMBUS, Miss. - Mississippi University for Women Softball split its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) doubleheader with Spalding University – winning 4-1 and falling 11-6 - at Don Usher Field. The Owls (19-13, 5-5 SLIAC) sit in the No. 5 position for the SLIAC post-season tournament, currently, while the Golden Eagles (16-16, 8-4 SLIAC) are No. 3.
 
In game one, after Spalding scored a run in the top of the first, MUW would get all it needed in the home half of the second off the bat of Maiya Joe (2-2). Joe's two-run single plated Riley Phillips and pinch-runner Taylor Palmer to make it 2-1.
 
That was enough for The W pitching tandem of starter Rylie Grisham (6-2) and Bailey McClellan. Grisham went 5.0 innings, scattering six hits. McClellan threw 2.0 scoreless frames to earn her first save of 2024, as the Owls kept the Golden Eagles' offense grounded the final six innings.
 
In game two, down 2-0 after on-half an inning, the MUW squad roared back in the bottom of the first thanks to a doubles barrage. Reagan Newell's RBI double drove home Alyssa Newman (3-4). That was followed by a two-run double from Joe (2-3) and an RBI double by Grisham (2-3) to make it 4-2.
 
After Spalding knotted the game at 4-4, Grisham gave her team a 6-4 advantage. She slapped an RBI single in the third and a fourth-inning sacrifice fly.
 
Unfortunately for The W, that was the extent of the team's offense in game two, as the Golden Eagles put up four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.
 
Avery Byerley (3-5) went 4.1 innings and took the loss for MUW. She struck out four, but also walked four and permitted six of SU's nine hits in the game.
 
The W will host Webster University on Monday (April 22). The SLIAC doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. at Don Usher Field.