Thomasville, Georgia- the Crusader baseball team managed a split on Saturday, salvaging the three game road series against the Thomas Nighthawks. Carey dropped the opener on Saturday 6-5 before escaping with a 9-6 win in game two.
 
In the first game of the day, the Crusaders found themselves in an early 1-0 hole before Deejay Booth blasted his team leading tenth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field to give the Crusaders the lead. It was short-lived, however, as Thomas answered with a two-run homer of their own to regain the lead. 
 
The teams traded a run each in the 5^th inning and two a piece in the 6^th inning to provide the final score of 6-5. Freshman Barron Frazer hit his second home run in a Crusader uniform in the sixth, a two run homer to briefly give Carey the lead. Thomas answered in the bottom frame with two runs on three hits and one Crusader error.
 
Taylor Walters picked up two hits in the loss and Franklin Hernandez drove in a run. Josh MacCord started on the mound for the Crusaders but was lifted after three innings in favor of Dylan Wallace. Both MacCord and Wallace surrendered three runs each, with Wallace taking the loss.
 
Carey came out swinging in game two scoring three runs in the top of the first. Booth led off with a double and later scored on a single by Jayden Mark. Hayes Carley, who had drawn a walk, scored on a single off the bat of Hernandez. Weston Wales capped the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. The Nighthawks trimmed the lead to two in the bottom frame on two hits.
 
In the top of the second, Carey pushed the lead to four with two more runs. Singles by Booth and Carley were followed by a Mark single to plate a run. The final run of the inning came when Tyler Ducksworth was picked off at first base but stayed in the rundown long enough to score Carley from third.
 
Thomas picked up three runs in the fourth to chase starter Everette Thompson from the game. Nic Arenderpushed the lead back to two with a solo shot in the top of the sixth, his first of the season. The Nighthawks tied the game again in the bottom of the seventh at six. Carey picked up three runs over the last two innings courtesy of some poor pitching and timely hitting. Walters singled home two in the 8^th after Nighthawk pitchers issued a pair of walks. The final run came in the 9^th via three walks and a hit batter to provide the final margin.
 
Booth, Walters, Mark, and Arender each picked up two hits in the win. Thompson went 3.2 innings before giving way to Blaise Lalonde, each striking out three. Jimmie Johnson tossed the 8^th and 9^th innings picking up the win. Only two of the Nighthawks' six runs were earned.
 
The Crusaders will wrap up the regular season next week hosting Blue Mountain Christian at Milton Wheeler Field. The series is set to begin on Thursday with the first pitch at 6:00. A doubleheader will follow on Friday at 1:00. Carey currently sits in third place in the SSAC standings, two games out of first place.