HATTIESBURG, Miss. – William Carey softball went toe-to-toe with No. 19 Southeastern (Fla.) for five innings, but a late offensive surge by the Fire proved decisive as the Lady Crusaders fell 5–0 Saturday afternoon at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field.
 
The game opened as a pitcher's duel, with both teams flashing sharp defense and shutting down early scoring threats. Carey starter Jayden Sawyer set the tone by stranding Southeastern runners in the first two innings, capping each frame with a strikeout to keep the Fire off the board.
 
Offensively, the Lady Crusaders showed early promise. Liz Cross singled to lead off the first and later added another hit in the third, accounting for two of Carey's three hits on the day. The third inning produced Carey's best scoring opportunity: Cross singled and stole second, Brooklyn Montana reached on an infield hit, and Caroline Lindsey drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. However, Southeastern escaped the jam with a strikeout to preserve the scoreless tie.
 
After a rain delay of nearly an hour, the momentum shifted. In the top of the sixth, Southeastern broke through by taking advantage of two walks and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. A pair of bases-loaded walks plated the first two runs of the afternoon, and a single to right field brought home two more, giving the Fire a 4–0 lead. Southeastern added an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to round out the scoring.
 
The Lady Crusaders return to action on Friday, February 27, when they travel to Columbus, Ga., for the NAIA Lead-Off Classic. Carey will face Lindsey Wilson College at 10:00 a.m., followed by a matchup with Truett McConnell at 12:00 p.m.