HATTIESBURG, Miss. - #16 William Carey Baseball opened up a three game series against #7 Mobile, taking both games of the double header Friday evening at Milton Wheeler Field.

In game one, Mobile got on the board in the first inning on a solo homerun by Sam Plash.  However, WCU tied things up in the third on a RJ Stinson RBI single to right center and took the lead for good in the fourth on a Braydon Coffey sac fly.

The Crusaders extended their lead in the fifth sending 11 batters to the plate to score seven runs on eight hits.

The Rams would push across a run in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs but starting pitcher Andrew Shirah was able to work out of the jam to end threat and pick up the win.  

Shirah pitched all seven innings allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in the win.

Just like in game one, Mobile took the early lead with three runs in the second but the Crusaders answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning.  After Coffey kept the inning alive, RJ Stinson singled to left field to score Coffey and Patrick Lee followed with a three run blast to right center.

Both teams traded runs in the third with the Rams taking a 6-5 lead in the fifth with two runs.  Carey would tie the game in the sixth after a lead-off triple by Rigoberto Hernandez followed by a RJ Stinson single to the infield.  WCU took an 8-6 lead in the seventh on a pass ball run and a sac fly by Hernandez.

Mobile threatened in the eighth loading the bases with no outs.  However, relief pitcher Preston Ratliff looked as if he was going to get the Crusaders out of the jam after inducing a double play and ground ball to short but a defensive miscue allowed the Rams to tie the game at eight all.

The Crusaders would not be denied and in the bottom of the ninth, with one out and the bases loaded, Lee delivered the game winner with a RBI single to center.

Ratliff picked up the win on the mound working two innings in relief allowing no runs or hits with three strikeouts.

Carey is back in action tomorrow, as they wrap up the series with a single game beginning at 12:00 pm weather permitting.