COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W softball opened St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) play with a doubleheader sweep of Lyon College at Don Usher Field. The Owls (12-10, 2-0 SLIAC) topped the Scots (4-16, 0-2 SLIAC) by scores of 4-2 and 7-0.
"I'm extremely proud of these girls and the journey we are on," MUW head coach
Rebecca Oldham said. "They all have such a great drive and fight in them. It feels great to come out and jump right into conference with a sweep. These girls fought hard today and I know they will continue to do so."
Each game showcased a different aspect of MUW's weapons. While both teams had six hits in game one, The W demonstrated some pop with four doubles. Conversely, while the Owls did manage 9 hits in game two, it was the pitching that took center stage.
In the bottom of the third, Chole McClain was hit by a pitch before, with one out,
Emilee Slade (2-3) singled.
Anna Sandlin's (1-3) deep foul out to left was enough to advance both runners into scoring position. With two down,
Riley Phillips (1-3) came up clutch with a two-run double to left center.
After the Scots got one back in the fourth, MUW got another two-run double from Sandlin in the fifth to make it 4-1.
Lyon boarded an unearned run in the sixth for the 4-2 final.
Freshman pitcher
Brooklyn Rhodes improved her personal record to 5-1 on the year. Rhodes went 5.1 innings, allowing all six hits by LC and just one earned run.
Bailey McClellan tossed 1.2 hitless innings to earn her first save of the season.
Avery Byerley (3-2) gave a solid effort from the circle in the second game, permitting just three Scots' hits in registering her second shutout of 2025 and her team-leading fifth complete game.
From the plate, Rhodes – serving as the designated player in game two, went 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Kaitlyn Bearley was 2-for-3, with a double and two runs batted in. McClain was also 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Slade was 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the fifth.
The W will host Eureka College on Saturday for another SLIAC doubleheader. Due to the threat of weather, the start time has been moved up to 12 p.m. at Usher Field.
