ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Mississippi University for Women softball team picked up a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) doubleheader split on Sunday at Fontbonne University. The Owls (17-11, 3-3 SLIAC) lost the opener, 4-1, before notching a 4-3 come-from-behind-win over the Griffins (8-15, 3-1 SLIAC) in game two.
 
In game one, MUW had a good start with Emilee Slade (1-3) hitting a one-out single and then stealing second to get into scoring position. Alysa Newman (1-3 ) singled sharply to left to plate Slade and give the Owls an early lead.
 
Unfortunately for The W, that would be the sum total of the team's offense versus FBU. The Griffins tallied a single run in the third and three in the home half of the sixth to make it the 4-1 final score.
 
Maiya Joe went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace MUW's six-hit attack.
 
Rylie Grisham (5-2) took the loss in the circle. Grisham went 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and the four earned runs, walking five. Bailey McClellan recorded the final two outs in relief.
 
After seeing three-consecutive SLIAC games get away in the latter innings, it was The W's turn to pull out some late-inning magic in game two. Fontbonne led 3-0 heading into the sixth, when the Owls got an unearned run to get on the board.
 
Then, down to its final three outs, MUW rallied for three runs. Deming reached on outfield error, advancing all the way to second. Kaitlyn Bearley (1-2) singled to put runners on the corners and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in Newman (1-4), with no outs. Newman kept the rally going with a double to left that drove in both runners, advancing to third on the throw.
 
Reagan Newell (2-2) walked and Riley Phillips (1-4)  struck out swinging, leaving the potential winning run still at third. Designated player Brooklyn Wood (2-4) came up and drilled a base hit to center, easily plating Newman, to put The W on top, 4-3.
 
All that remained was for MUW pitcher Avery Byerley (3-3) to close out matters in the bottom of the seventh. Fontbonne got a leadoff single to make matters tense. But Byerley struck out the next batter and induced a game-ending double play to put the contest in the Owls' "W" column.
 
Byerley finished her complete game victory permitting six hits. She struck out two Griffins, walking two, as well.