Owls Baseball splits doubleheader with Spalding, ending first league loss for Golden Eagles

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mississippi University for Women’s baseball team split a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at Spalding University. The Owls lost the first game 7-5 but responded with a 12-1 victory in the second game, according to team and conference sources.

In the opening game, MUW allowed six runs through the first three innings, including four in the first and two in the third. Owls starter Campbell McCluney took the loss, pitching five innings and giving up six earned runs. McCluney also issued seven walks, an uncharacteristic performance, and allowed six hits.

The Owls rallied in the later innings, getting within a hit of tying or taking the lead by the ninth. A sacrifice fly by Baron Brack and an RBI single from Michael O’Neill cut the deficit to 6-2 in the sixth. After Spalding responded with a run in the bottom half, Zach Johnson hit a two-run double in the seventh to bring MUW within two. Brack followed with an RBI single, making it 7-5, but the Owls could not score again.

In the second game, MUW’s pitching limited Spalding to three singles and one run. Zach Connell pitched five innings, allowing one hit and one earned run for his second straight quality start. Chris Ellis finished the game with three scoreless innings to earn the save.

The Owls took the lead in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Swayze Rikard and a walk by Jay Marbutt, followed by a sacrifice fly from Zach Johnson. MUW extended its lead with four runs in the eighth and five in the ninth. Griffin Fuller led the offense, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Marbutt went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Johnson also contributed two hits and two RBIs.

The teams will conclude the series with a rubber game Sunday at 11 a.m. Central Time, according to the schedule.

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