COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W softball opened it 2026 season at home Saturday, dropping a doubleheader to Rhodes College, 12-0 (in five innings) and 9-6, at Usher Field.
In the opener, MUW was nearly no-hit by the Lynx. The Owls' lone hit of the five-inning, run-rule, game came off of the bat of
Gillion Eaves. The freshman from Louisville, Miss., got a pinch-hit single with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning to stave off the no-no.
MUW sophomore
Brooklyn Rhodes (0-1) – who evolved into the team's ace as a freshman in 2025 – stumbled a bit out of the gate for 2026. Rhodes was touched up for four hits and six earned runs over just 2.0 innings. She walked two and struck out two.
In the second game of the day, MUW's offense came alive with 10 hits. The Owls' Nos. 1-3 hitters collected seven of those knocks. Eaves, getting the start in game two in right and batting leadoff, went 2-for-4 with a double. Shortstop
Madison York hit number two and also went 2-for-4, with a run scored and an RBI triple. Second baseman
Addison Owen was 3-for-4, with two runs, and an RBI from the three hole.
Catcher
Sasha King also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, with one RBI. Third baseman
Chloe McClain was 1-for-3, with a two-run double in the fourth frame.
Senior righty
Phallyn Clark (0-1) absorbed the loss from the circle in the second game. Clark threw a complete game and was charged with all nine runs, just five of which were earned, however. Clark struck out four Lynx and walked two.
The Owls will next be in action at home next Friday and Saturday, February 13-14, hosting The W invitational round-robin. Covenant College and Sewanee will join The W for the tourney.
