HATTIESBURG, Miss. – No. 8 William Carey saw a 12-game win streak snapped, as they fell to Mississippi College 16-11 Tuesday night at Milton Wheeler Field.
 
"Anytime you give an opposing team 13 free passes (9 walks and 4 hit batters) along with 15 hits it's very difficult to win the game," said Head Coach Bobby Halford.  "Both teams had to battle with a tight strike zone all night, but MC was able to do a better job adjusting."
 
"They only allowed three base on balls with one coming in the last inning and we made some crucial mistakes like dropping a two out fly ball that lead to 4 runs. I was really pleased with our crowd and the way our guys kept battling. It was a great atmosphere and a playoff type feel. We will get better from the experience which we will have to regroup fast playing the best team on our schedule come Friday."
 
Carey got off to a shaky start in the first inning, as back-to-back free passes loaded the bases with two outs followed by Logan Shurden clearing the bases with a triple to right center to put MC up 3-0.
 
The Crusaders got one run back in the bottom of the first on a solo home run by Rigoberto Hernandez and in the second, tied the game on a two-run shot by Jayden Mark. However, the Choctaws answered with a run in the third and four in the fourth to extend their lead to five.
 
The sixth inning saw both teams trade runs to make it 11-6 with WCU getting their runs on a sac fly by Mark, an RBI groundout by Bridley Thomas, and a solo home run by Cam Trosclair. The Crusaders inched closer in the seventh inning, picking up one run on another long ball, this one coming off the bat of Josh Alexander and a passed ball later in the inning to get within three at 11-8.
 
Again though, MC answered with a run eighth and four more in the ninth to take a 16-8 lead. Carey threatened in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs on back-to-back two out singles by Eli Collins and Braydon Coffey but would get no closer, as Colby Gollott struck out the next batter to end the threat.
 
Carey is back in action Friday, March 28, as they take on #3 Georgia Gwinnett College in non-conference action. Game one of the Friday double header is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm at Milton Wheeler Field.