JACKSON, Tenn. – William Carey opened pool play in the 2026 SSAC Baseball Championship in dominant fashion, rolling to a 15–1 victory over UT Southern on Wednesday afternoon at Rockabillys Stadium.
 
WCU wasted little time setting the tone, striking in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff walk and stolen base by DeeJay Booth, Jayden Mark drove in the game's first run with a single down the left-field line. Tyler Ducksworth followed later in the inning with an RBI single, giving Carey an early 2–0 lead.
 
The Crusaders took advantage of a UT Southern miscue in the second inning, plating an unearned run to extend the margin to 3–0. Carey then broke the game open in the third, scoring four runs on four hits. Barron Frazer, Booth, and Taylor Walters each drove in runs, with Walters highlighting the inning with a two-run single.
 
WCU kept the pressure on in the fourth inning. Hays Carley tripled to bring home Gage Hinnant, and Ducksworth added a sacrifice fly to score Carley. Walters continued his standout performance at the plate with another two-run single, stretching the lead to 11–0.
 
UT Southern got on the board in the fifth, stringing together three hits, including an RBI single from Evan Nelson that scored Reagan Tomlin. However, the brief spark did little to slow Carey's momentum.
 
The Crusaders answered immediately, plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth before adding two more in the sixth. RBI contributions from Roth John and Walters, along with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Weston Wales, pushed the lead to 15–1.
 
On the mound, SSAC Pitcher of the Year Matthew Davis delivered a strong performance, working six innings while allowing one run on six hits and striking out six to earn the victory.
 
Carey returns to action tomorrow to continue pool play against Loyola University, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.