HATTIESBURG, Miss. – William Carey baseball dropped its weekend series to Faulkner University on Saturday evening at Milton Wheeler Field, falling 10–3 in game one before coming up just short in an 8–7 loss in the nightcap.
Faulkner broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning of game one. Anthory Bassett Torres singled and moved into scoring position on a pair of wild pitches before scoring on an RBI single by CJ Robertson to give the Eagles a 1–0 lead.
The Eagles added to their advantage in the fourth with a three-run inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Carter Schellsmidt, Bassett Torres, and Orlando Arellano. William Carey responded in the bottom half of the frame as
Taylor Walters delivered an RBI single to right field, and an error allowed another run to score, trimming the deficit to 4–2.
Faulkner answered again in the fifth, plating three runs to push the lead to 7–2. The Crusaders scratched one run back in the bottom of the inning when
Tyler Ducksworth drove in
Alan McClean with a single to left, making it 7–3. The Eagles put the game out of reach in the sixth with another three-run frame and went on to close out the win, holding Carey to just two baserunners over the final two innings.
In game two, William Carey jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as
DeeJay Booth launched a solo home run to center field. Faulkner quickly responded in the top of the second, as Bassett Torres connected on a three-run homer to left to give the Eagles the lead.
The Crusaders answered in the bottom of the third with a four-run outburst. After loading the bases,
Hays Carley was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and
Taylor Walters followed by clearing the bases with a triple down the right-field line, putting William Carey ahead 5–3.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Faulkner regained the lead in the fifth with four runs and added another in the sixth to build an 8–5 advantage.
William Carey mounted a late rally in the bottom of the eighth. Walters doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly, and Booth added an RBI double to cut the deficit to one run. Faulkner's bullpen, however, was able to limit further damage and preserve the lead.
In the ninth inning, Walters drew a walk to bring the tying run aboard, but Faulkner recorded the final out on a ground ball to secure the one-run victory.
William Carey returns to action on Tuesday, March 17, when the Crusaders travel to Alexandria, La., to face LSU Alexandria in non-conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
