COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W softball banged out 20 total hits in its doubleheader sweep over Sewanee: University of the South, 5-3 and 8-0, at Don Usher Field. The Owls improved to 7-3 on the young season, while the Tigers dropped to 3-3, overall.
 
The opening game may not have earned style points – the teams combined for five errors – but MUW held fast, leading at one point, 4-0. The W received four unearned runs off of the Tigers' three miscues.
 
Freshman Brooklyn Rhodes continued her outstanding inaugural college season, improving her personal record to 3-0 and recording her third-straight complete game. Against Sewanee, Rhodes' lone hiccup was a three run (two earned) fifth. She scattered five hits, struck out six and walked just two Tigers.
 
In all, The W collected nine hits in the opener. Emilee Slade led the charge by going 2-for-4, with two runs scored and double. Lilly Harrison was 2-for-3 with a run scored batting in the Owls' nine spot.
 
In game two, newcomer Phallyn Clark (2-1) spun a two-hit shutout, utilizing her team's offensive eruption in the run-rule shortened game. The W tallied five runs in the first inning and three more in the third, buoyed by an 11-hit attack.
 
In the Owls' first, Riley Phillips (1-3) had an RBI single and stole home as a part of a double steal. Kaitlyn Bearley (1-3) spanked a two-run single, with Taylor Palmer (1-1, 2 runs) also singling in a run.
 
Slade and Anna Sandlin each went 2-for-3 to pace the Owls. Slade had a double and two RBI.
 
The W will host Hendrix College on Sunday (Feb. 23/11 a.m.) for a non-league doubleheader.