HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey Baseball Team opened a four-game home stand with an 11-3 victory over #16 Missouri Baptist Thursday evening at Milton Wheeler Field.
 
"Pleased with our performance tonight," said Head Coach Bobby Halford. Shirah had another strong outing, and we had some timely hits from Ratliff and Ducksworth. Also, it's good to see Alexander get going with his homer and Bridley Thomas continues to be a catalyst for us."
 
Preston Ratliff started things with a bang, sending a shot over the left field fence to put WCU up 2-0 in the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, Carey starter Andrew Shirah ran into a bit of trouble. With two outs in the third, back-to-back base hits made it a one run game with a throwing error by catcher Jayden Mark allowing another run to tie the game.
 
The game was not tied long, as Tyler Ducksworth sent a shot to left centerfield in the bottom of the third, scoring Ty little and Ratliff. Ducksworth would come around to score on a throwing error by the Spartans to make it a three-run advantage WCU.
 
In the top of the fourth, Shirah worked around a leadoff hit, retiring the next three Spartans and in the bottom half of the inning, Josh Alexander extended the Carey lead to 6-2 with a leadoff solo shot that just snuck over the left field fence. Later in the inning, Bridley Thomas would come in to score on a throwing error after stealing third base.
 
The Crusaders broke the game wide open in the fifth with four runs on two hits. After three free passes loaded the bases, Thomas singled to left, scoring Rigoberto Hernandez and Brady Logan. Eli Collins followed Thomas with an RBI double to right with the final run of the frame coming on an RBI groundout by Mark.
 
MBU threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs but this time though, Shirah was able to work out the jam unharmed with a strikeout to end the inning. The 11-2 lead held until the ninth when the Spartans again threatened loading the bases with no outs, but relief pitcher Alik Avila managed to get out of trouble allowing just run for the final margin.
 
Andrew Shirah picked up the win on the mound going 5.2 innings, allowing two runs one earned on four hits.
 
"It feels really good to go out there the first game of the weekend and get a Win versus a really good team in Missouri Baptist." Said Shirah. "I had really good command of the ball today throwing a lot of strikes. Days like today where I'm making the opposing team earn everything and I'm not giving them free passes are usually a formula for winning. Again, it's more focusing on what I can control on the mound and limiting the number of runners that reach base. I am excited for the win tonight and looking forward to the rest of the games this weekend."
 
Carey is back in action tomorrow, as they take on Campbellsville (Ky.) and MBU. Play is set to begin at 3:00 pm at Milton Wheeler Field.