LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mississippi University for Women's softball season came to a close on Tuesday, falling in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinals at Spalding University. The No. 5 seeded Owls (21-18) fell to the No. 4-seed Golden Eagles (22-17), 2-1, at Legacy Fields.
 
In what turned into a fairly good pitcher's duel, The W managed just three hits and SU had just five knocks. A Golden Eagle triple was the lone extra-base hit by either team.
 
MUW starter Rylie Grisham went 5.0 innings, allowing one earned run and not figuring in the decision. Avery Byerley (3-8) came on in the sixth and gave up what would be the deciding run in taking the loss.
 
Trailing 1-0 after a Spalding run in the second, the Owls knotted the game in the fourth. Jessica Deming (1-3) led off the frame with a single, took second on Kaitlyn Bearley's sacrifice bunt. Deming then came home on a two-out RBI single by senior Riley Phillips.
 
Phillips would finish the day by going 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
MUW closes the books on 2024 with the program's fourth 20-win season of its modern era. The Owls produced back-to-back 20-win campaigns in 2023 and 2024 for the first time since 2018 and 2019.