Santa Clarita, Calif. – William Carey closed out a successful West Coast road trip with a doubleheader sweep of The Master's on Saturday afternoon, rallying for a 6–3 win in game one before holding off a late push for a 4–3 victory in the finale.
 
Head Coach Bobby Halford said after the game, "This was an important pair of wins for a team that is still coming together. Our starters delivered strong performances, our bullpen provided steady support, and our defense prevented them from putting together any big innings. Offensively, Gage Hinnant, Tyler Ducksworth, Alan McClean, and Jayden Mark—who caught all four games—produced timely hits that made a big difference."
 
The Master's struck first in the opening inning on a Jack Drew RBI single that scored Isaiah Morales. Carey responded quickly in the second, taking advantage of a Mustangs defensive miscue that allowed Taylor Walters to cross the plate.
 
A WCU error helped the Mustangs regain the lead in the third, but the Crusaders continued to pressure offensively. Alan McClean opened the fifth with a double, and Gage Hinnant followed with a run-scoring single to right to knot the score at 2–2. The Mustangs answered once again in the bottom half, scoring on a bases-loaded walk after another WCU mistake.
 
The Crusaders flipped the game for good in the eighth, capitalizing on multiple Mustang errors. After Darion Medley reached and moved into scoring position, Nic Arender singled to center, and a throwing error allowed Medley to score the tying run. Moments later, Cam Senior reached on another error, plating the go-ahead run. Hinnant then delivered a decisive two-RBI single to center, completing a four-run inning.
 
Blaise Lalonde shut the door, allowing only three hits over three innings to earn the win.
 
Carey wasted no time seizing control in the nightcap. Tyler Ducksworth led off the game with a solo home run to left, and Walters added a groundout RBI moments later, giving the Crusaders a 2–0 lead after the first.
 
The Mustangs threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases before Senior made a highlight-reel diving catch in left to preserve the early advantage.
 
The Master's continued applying pressure over the next two innings, but the Carey defense held firm. Meanwhile, the Crusaders' bats cooled briefly as the Mustangs tightened up defensively.
Momentum shifted again in the fifth when Ducksworth singled and Hinnant was hit by a pitch. DeeJay Booth followed with a base hit to load the bases, setting up Jayden Mark's sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3–0.
 
The Master's answered with a solo homer by Morales in the bottom half, trimming the deficit to 3–1. Carey responded the next inning as Arender walked and Senior doubled, with McClean driving in a run to restore a three-run cushion at 4–1.
 
From there, the Crusaders needed every bit of defensive grit. The Mustangs mounted their strongest push in the seventh, loading the bases with one out before scratching across a run on a fielder's choice. An errant throw on the next play allowed another run to score, cutting the Carey lead to a single run. But reliever Dylan Wallace held his composure, inducing a groundout to third to end the threat and secure the victory.
 
WCU returns home on Friday, February 6, hosting Columbia International University in the home opener at Milton Wheeler Field. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.