MOBILE, Ala. – The William Carey Softball Team opened conference play, splitting a Friday double header against the University of Mobile, taking game one 4-3 in 9 innings and falling 1-0 in game two.
"Tough first 5 innings of the first game," said Head Coach
Craig Fletcher. "We were finally able to go ahead. We were able to hold them off in the 9th with a big double play with the bases loaded. Reanna threw an excellent game, but we gave her no run support."
Game one started with both sides going one two three in the first but in the second, Carey ran into some trouble, as an error and three free passes allowed the Rams to take a 1-0 lead. The one run lead held until the sixth when Mobile extended their lead with a one run on two hits.
After being held to just three hits over the first six innings of the game, the Lady Crusaders got things going in the seventh.
Magen Caro led the inning with a double to left but looked like the Rams were going to leave her stranded there retiring the next two batters.
However, pinch hitter
Hayden Averette drew a walk to keep the inning alive and
Liz Cross followed with an RBI single to score one run, with an error scoring another run to tie the game.
Lilli Robertson then stepped to the plate, delivering the go-ahead RBI single to center.
Mobile threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loaded the bases with no outs but starting pitcher
Ryanne Hornsby managed to limit the damage to just one to send the game into extra innings. After a one two three eighth by both teams, Carey put a runner in scoring position with two outs and again Cross came through with a single to center to score
Madison Prejean.
The Rams again came out, putting two runners on with no outs. After a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third,
Julia Shaw came charging in on another bunt attempt to make a shoestring catch and fired the ball to third to double off the runner to seal the victory.
In game two, Mobile took advantage of what proved to be a costly error in the first inning, plating what turned out to be the game winning run. The Lady Crusaders had some opportunities putting runners in scoring position on four different occasions but each time the Rams worked out of the jam to preserve the one run victory.
WCU is back in action Friday, February 28, as they take on SSAC foe Blue Mountain Christian. Play is set to get underway at 3:00 pm at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field.
