OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Lady Crusaders fell in their opening game of the 2025 NAIA World Series Opening Round 8-2 to No.16 Missouri Baptist.
Both teams got off to scoring starts with William Carey scoring a single run in the top of the first. A two out double from
Laila Clark got her in scoring position before
Albanie Fussell singled down the left field line to drive Clark home.
The Spartans responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 1
st. Two singles from Jenna Achs & Jacie Dees set up Brooklynn Fischer for a 3-run home run to put MBU up 3-1 after the first inning.
MBU wasted no time at the plate as they doubled their runs in the bottom of the second. A single from Makayla Johnson and a walk from Camryn Kessler put runners on 1
st and 2
nd before a sac bunt advanced them. A ground out and Dees' second hit in as many innings put the two runs across the plate and got herself on 2
nd. A Miranda Ladson single to center field allowed Dees to run home and put MBU's 6
th run of the game on the scoreboard.
Carey managed to pull a run back in the top of the third in what seemed to be déjà vu of the first inning. A double from Clark, followed by a single from Fussell gave Carey a glimmer of hope for a comeback.
That glimmer was quickly extinguished as the Spartans put another two runs on the board on what would prove to be the last action of the game. Four singles and a wild pitch in five at bats allowed Johnson & Kessler to cross home plate and put the game beyond doubt.
Reanna Nieman replaced
Ryanne Hornsby in the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning to stop the bleeding for WCU. Nieman excelled in the circle, striking out 2 and only giving up 1 hit in the remaining three innings of play. Unfortunately, the Lady Crusaders couldn't find the offense necessary to threaten a comeback as they couldn't muster a hit past the third inning.
Carey now face an elimination game tomorrow to keep their hopes of advancing past the opening round alive. They face the University of Houston-Victoria at 1 PM CT in Oklahoma City, Okla.
