CARLINVILLE, Ill. — The Mississippi University for Women softball team played a doubleheader at Blackburn College, resulting in one win and one loss in extra innings, according to school officials.
The Owls improved to 16-13 overall and 11-3 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after a 3-2 victory in nine innings in the first game. They fell 7-6 in eight innings in the second game.
In game one, senior Kaitlyn Bearley’s RBI single in the fourth inning scored Addison Owen to give MUW an early lead. Blackburn responded with a run in the sixth, tying the game at 1-1. The score remained tied through the eighth inning before MUW took the lead in the ninth, aided by unearned runs scored on errors by Blackburn’s defense. Brooklyn Rhodes went 3-for-4 with a double for MUW, which totaled five hits in the game. Freshman Trinity Garvin earned the win in the circle, scattering six hits and striking out eight batters in a complete-game effort.
In the second game, Owen’s RBI single in the first inning gave MUW an early lead. Blackburn scored six runs in the third inning to take control but MUW responded with three runs in the fifth, highlighted by Owen’s two-RBI double. Owen continued her strong performance in the seventh, hitting a solo home run to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings. However, in the eighth, a sacrifice bunt and an error allowed Blackburn to score the walk-off run, ending the game at 7-6. Owen finished 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Garvin added two hits and a run scored. Rhodes took the loss, pitching four innings with four strikeouts and one walk.
The Owls will continue conference play in upcoming games, aiming to build on their split result at Blackburn, according to team officials.
