TALLADEGA, Ala. — William Carey used a fast start and a pair of timely late-inning home runs to secure an 8–4 road victory over Talladega College on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Crusaders struck early, pushing across two runs in the top of the first. After a single and a walk put two aboard, Jayden Mark opened the scoring with an RBI single to right-center. Moments later, Hays Carley added a sacrifice fly to bring home Ducksworth and make it 2–0.
 
Talladega created occasional pressure in the early innings—highlighted by a two-out double in the third—but the Crusaders' pitching staff worked through each threat. Solid defensive play also limited the Tornadoes to just three baserunners over the first four frames.
 
Carey broke the game open in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to spark a three-run surge. A walk and an error on a bunt set the table, and Cam Senior delivered a sacrifice fly to extend the lead. Franklin Hernandez followed with a clutch two-run single up the middle, stretching the advantage to 5–0.
 
Talladega answered with an RBI single in the bottom half, but Carey quickly regained momentum. In the seventh, the Crusaders answered with back-to-back solo home runs from DeeJay Booth and Ducksworth, pushing the lead to 7–1.
 
The Tornadoes responded with a pair of runs in their half of the seventh, fueled by an RBI double from F. Quinones and an RBI triple from Rivera. They tacked on another run in the eighth on a J. Williams RBI single, trimming the deficit to 7–4 before an interference call wiped away a potential second run and halted the rally.
 
Carey added insurance in the ninth when Gage Hinnant doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Reliever Dylan Wallace then worked a clean bottom of the ninth to secure the 8–4 win.
 
The Crusaders return to action on Friday, February 27, opening SSAC play with a doubleheader against Abraham Baldwin beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Milton Wheeler Field.