HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey Baseball Team completed the sweep of Middle Georgia State with a 12-2 walk-off run rule victory Saturday afternoon at Milton Wheeler Field.
 
"Proud of our guys who battled after the sweep yesterday," said Head Coach Bobby Halford. "We were finally able to get to their lefty who was really tough on us with mixing his off-speed pitches. We got a gig hit by Jayden Mark who put us ahead and that nine-run inning was a combination of a lot of guys having team at bats."
 
"Cam Trosclair continues to have quality at bats in pinch hitting roles," said Halford. "Connor Wilson was solid again in that stunning slot. I have been really pleased with guys like Ducksworth, Booth, and Wilson who missed last season due to injuries step up and provided big time contributions. Really glad to see Booth who just became available Wednesday at Dillard."
 
The Crusaders threatened in the first three innings, getting a runner to third base but each time the Knights managed to leave the runner stranded to keep the game knotted at zero. Starting pitcher Conner Wilson was cruising along until the fifth inning when MGA led the inning off with a solo home run to break the scoreless tie and the no hitter.
 
The Knights threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but relief pitcher Bobby Magee worked out the jam with a strikeout to keep it a one run game. With the chips down and outs at a premium. The Carey offense came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a fly out to start the inning, Preston Ratliff started a hitting parade of four straight hits with a single.
 
Tyler Ducksworth followed with a single and after a balk moved the runners up one base, Jayden Mark put Carey in front with double to left center. Pinch hitter Cam Trosclair then delivered a rbi single to score courtesy runner Cam Senior.
 
Back-to-back walks and hit by pitch followed to load the bases with Eli Collins capitalizing on those free passes with a single to left to make it 6-1 WCU. DeeJay Booth was the next Crusaders to step to the plate, ripping a triple to left center to score Collins and Bridley Thomas and would later come in to score on a wild pitch for the final run of the frame.
 
Both teams traded runs in the seventh and in the eighth the Crusaders finished things off. Collins drew a leadoff walk followed by a Booth double, put runners on second and third with no outs and for the second straight game, Ratliff came through with the walk-off hit, driving a double to left field to complete the run rule victory.
 
Carey is back in action Tuesday, February 25, as they take on John Melvin in non-conference action. The first game of the double header is scheduled for 4:00 pm at Milton Wheeler Field.