LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The WCU baseball team fell in a high-scoring battle Tuesday night, dropping a 19–6 decision to West Alabama.
The Crusaders opened the game with energy, striking for three runs in the top of the first.
Jayden Mark and
Taylor Walters delivered RBI singles, and an unearned run pushed the early lead to 3–0. Carey kept the momentum rolling in the second inning when
DeeJay Booth launched a two-run homer to left. A bases-loaded walk stretched the advantage to 6–0, but UWA escaped further trouble by turning an inning-ending double play.
West Alabama slowly worked its way back into the game. A three-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Aaron Wallace, cut the deficit to 6–3. The Tigers added a run in the fourth on a Nick Wilson RBI single, then surged ahead with a four-run fifth to take a 7–6 lead.
Carey briefly swung the momentum back in its favor. Booth was hit by a pitch in the sixth, stole two bases, and came home on a bunt-and-error sequence to tie the game at 7–7. After UWA answered with a run in the bottom half, the Crusaders reclaimed a 9–8 lead in the seventh thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by
Tyler Ducksworth and a sacrifice fly to right by Mark.
The lead didn't hold. A wild pitch allowed UWA to tie the game in the seventh, and the Tigers broke things open with a seven-run eighth inning on four hits. WCU mounted one last threat in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice ended the rally.
Carey returns home on Friday, March 13, to open a three-game SSAC series against Faulkner University. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. at Milton Wheeler Field.
