HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The William Carey softball team split its midweek doubleheader with Louisiana Christian University on Tuesday afternoon at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field, with the Wildcats taking game one 4–1 before the Lady Crusaders answered with a 4–0 shutout in the nightcap.
After two quiet innings from both teams, LCU broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. The Wildcats pushed across the game's first run when Lexi Broussard beat out an infield single to third, and a throwing error allowed Kaitlyn Roberts to score from second while Broussard advanced all the way to third. Christina Curtis followed with a walk, and Broussard came home on a single to left. Moments later, Isabella Battaglia delivered a two-run single to right-center to stretch the lead to 4–0.
WCU generated several scoring opportunities throughout the afternoon, starting in the bottom of the second.
Jayden Sawyer reached and advanced to third on a passed ball, but LCU's pitching staff navigated out of the threat. The Lady Crusaders threatened again in the fourth, putting runners on second and third with one out after singles by
Albanie Fussell and
Kinley Hogue, but the Wildcats retired the next two batters to escape the inning.
Carey broke through in the sixth. After a leadoff double by
Caroline Lindsey, pinch-runner Little Bittle moved to third on a single from Sawyer. A fielder's choice brought Bittle home to cut the deficit to 4–1, but that would be the lone run Carey managed.
WCU mounted one final rally in the seventh, stringing together singles from
Ryanne Hornsby,
Harper Dupre, and Lindsey. But once again, LCU worked out of trouble, inducing a flyout to center to seal the win.
After a quiet opening frame for both sides in game two, WCU produced the decisive swing in the bottom of the second. With two aboard following a walk and a bunt single,
Julia Shaw ripped a double down the right-field line to score Fussell and Hogue, giving the Lady Crusaders a 2–0 advantage. LCU's only early chance came on a two-out double from Battaglia in the top half of the inning.
WCU added to the lead in the fourth. Shaw led off with a single down the left-field line, and Dupre followed with a line drive to center that skipped away, allowing Shaw to score and Dupre to reach third. Moments later,
Anna Grace Shows laid down a bunt toward third; the throw went to first, and Dupre raced home to make it 4–0.
From that point, WCU's pitching took over. Sawyer set the tone in the circle, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard while the defense erased the limited threats LCU managed to create. The Wildcats' best chance came in the fourth after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning and preserved the cushion.
Carey returns to action on Saturday, February 21, hosting Southeastern (Fla.) in a doubleheader at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.
