JACKSON, Tenn.- One legend supplants another legend. Crusader skipper, Bobby Halford, passed former Mississippi State head coach Ron Polk on the all-time wins list today with win number 1,374 when the William Carey Crusaders defeated Blue Mountain 8-4 at Rockabilly Stadium. The win not only put Halford ahead of Polk, but has the Crusaders sitting pretty at 2-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament. Carey already won the regular season championship and are poised to take the tournament championship for the fourth time in the last five years.
 
Halford won his first game as the head coach of the Crusaders way back in 1986 and he's been winning ever since. He boasts a .629 winning percentage over the years and has only had one losing season in his forty-year career. He's already the winningest active coach in the NAIA and 6^th overall in history. His 1,374 wins also lands him in the Top 20 across all levels of college baseball.
 
"This was a great team win for our guys," says Halford. "We got a couple of big hits when we needed them and had another quality start on the mound. These guys have done that all season long and it's great to see different guys come through." When asked about what win #1,374 means, Halford responded "It's great for our program and our university. I've been very blessed to be able to do this all of these years and I owe my family a big thank you for all of their support."
 
After stranding a couple of runners early, Carey jumped all over the Toppers in the top of the fourth. Three walks in a row to load the bases followed by a hit by pitch on the hand to Eli Collins plated the first run. From there, the wheels fell off. Bridley Thomas, back in the lineup after suffering a concession a couple of weeks ago, delivered a triple to deep left field to clear the bases. Catcher, Braydon Coffey, followed with an RBI single to left to put the Crusaders up 6-0. Ty Little kept the inning rolling with an opposite field single to left and Rigoberto Hernandez capped the scoring with his own RBI single to left field.
 
Carey plated another run in the top of the 5^th after Collins led off with a single to the mound. An errant throw by the pitcher allowed him to advance to second. Thomas followed with a single to left advancing Collins to third, and Coffey knocked him in with his second RBI single of the day. The Toppers got one back in the bottom half of the inning after three consecutive singles up the middle before starting pitcher, Bobby Magee, slammed the door on the threat.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Toppers got back in the game plating three runs on two hits and an error. A triple to deep centerfield was the big blow of the inning, scoring two runs cutting the Carey lead to 7-4. A walk followed bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but Magee escaped the jam after a hard line drive out right at the second baseman Little. Carey answered again in the top of the 9^th to push the lead back to four. Alexander drew a one out walk and advanced to second before scoring on a Preston Ratliff single to right field. The Crusaders worked the bases loaded but couldn't push another run across.
 
Luke Lycette entered the game in the 8^th inning for Carey and slammed the door for the remainder of the night. Magee picked up the win going seven innings and allowing three earned runs punching out six. Lycette picked up the two inning save without giving up a hit and striking out three. Coffey led the Crusaders at the plate with three singles and two RBI. Thomas also had a multi-hit night with a triple and three RBI.
 
The Crusaders face Middle Georgia State tomorrow at Rockabilly Stadium.  A win would advance Carey to the SSAC championship game on Saturday. The first pitch tomorrow is set for 3:00.