CLINTON, Miss. – Mississippi College rallied late to edge William Carey University, 8–6, on Tuesday afternoon at Frierson Field.
William Carey opened the scoring in the top of the second when
Hays Carley singled and later crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by
Alan McClean, giving the Crusaders a 1–0 lead.
WCU doubled its advantage in the fourth as
Cam Senior delivered a run-scoring double, again bringing home Carley to make it 2–0. The Choctaws quickly answered in the bottom half. Will Langston doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jake LaRocca, and Trent Murphy followed with an RBI single to even the game at 2–2 after four innings.
The Crusaders reclaimed momentum in the sixth, taking advantage of a defensive miscue and timely hitting to post a three-run frame. McClean drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single. After
Tyler Ducksworth was hit by a pitch to load the bases,
Gage Hinnant lined a two-run single up the middle, pushing the WCU lead to 5–2.
Mississippi College responded with the game's pivotal inning in the bottom of the sixth. A leadoff walk sparked a four-run surge. LaRocca's RBI double brought in the first run, and Kade Jordan followed with a run-scoring single to cut the deficit to one. Murphy tied the contest with an RBI groundout, and Cole Gadman capped the rally with an RBI single, giving MC its first lead at 6–5.
The Crusaders continued to battle, pulling even in the seventh when
Jayden Mark doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice, narrowly beating the tag from catcher LaRocca. But the Choctaws answered one final time in the bottom half. With two outs and runners on base, Murphy delivered, singling to left as two runs scored to put MC ahead 8–6.
From there, the Choctaw bullpen slammed the door, retiring WCU in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win.
William Carey returns to action on Thursday, February 12, as the Crusaders host Missouri Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Milton Wheeler Field.
