ALEXANDRIA, La. – William Carey used a late offensive surge to pull away from LSU-Alexandria on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Generals 8–1 in non-conference action.
After three scoreless innings, the Crusaders broke through in the top of the third by taking advantage of an LSUA miscue.
Alan McClean reached base on a throwing error to open the frame and later came around to score when
Nic Arender delivered a pinch-hit RBI single through the left side, giving WCU a 1–0 lead.
LSU-Alexandria responded in the bottom of the fourth. Landon Langley doubled down the left-field line and later scored on Brett Batteford's RBI single to center, tying the game at 1–1. That would prove to be the Generals' lone run of the afternoon, as Carey's pitching staff settled in and the offense began to apply consistent pressure.
The Crusaders regained the lead in the fifth inning when
Hays Carley lined an RBI single into right-center field, scoring
Gage Hinnant. Carey then broke the game open with a four-run seventh inning that shifted the momentum for good. Arender tripled into the left-center gap to drive in a run, and Carley followed with his second RBI single of the game.
Taylor Walters capped the rally with a bases-clearing double to right field, extending the lead to 6–1.
WCU added two more runs in the eighth, again capitalizing on defensive miscues. After back-to-back errors and a single by McClean,
Cam Senior scored on a fielder's choice, and McClean later crossed the plate on another fielder's choice to push the advantage to 8–1.
On the mound, starter Baise Lalonde and reliever
Caleb Ougel combined for a strong performance, holding LSU-Alexandria to five hits and one run over nine innings. The Generals managed just two baserunners over the final four frames. Carley finished the day with three hits and two RBIs, while Arender drove in three runs on two hits.
William Carey returns to action on Friday, March 20, when it hosts conference foe Brewton-Parker at Milton Wheeler Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
