HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey softball team cruised to a doubleheader sweep of Blue Mountain Christian on Thursday night, opening the evening with a 5–1 victory before closing out an 8–0 run-rule win in the nightcap.
The Lady Crusaders struck first in game one, manufacturing a run in the bottom of the opening inning.
Liz Cross reached on a bunt single and advanced to third before
Jayden Sawyer drove her in with a groundout to shortstop, giving Carey an early 1–0 advantage.
Blue Mountain responded in the top of the second to even the score. Kelsey Camp led off with a triple to right field and came home on Maryn Macri's sacrifice fly to center, knotting the game at 1–1. It proved to be the Toppers' lone run of the contest.
Carey answered immediately, breaking the game open in the bottom of the second. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Cross, who ripped a three-run double to center field to score
Julia Shaw,
Harper Dupre, and
Brooklynn Montana and extend the lead to 4–1.
After a scoreless third inning, the Lady Crusaders added an insurance run in the fourth. Singles from
Caroline Lindsey and Dupre put pressure on the defense before Montana reached on an error, allowing Dupre to score. Sawyer and
Reanna Nieman took care of the rest, combining to allow just one run on four hits in the complete game effort.
Carey carried the momentum into game two, once again striking early. Cross opened the bottom of the first with a single and moved into scoring position before coming home on Shaw's groundout to give WCU a 1–0 lead.
The Lady Crusaders added to their advantage in the second as
Kinley Hogue worked a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error following Sawyer's ground ball to push the lead to 2–0.
Blue Mountain threatened in the third with a leadoff single, but starting pitcher
Ryanne Hornsby and the Carey defense shut down the rally, stranding the runner at second.
The game broke wide open in the fourth as Carey sent 10 batters to the plate and erupted for five runs on five hits. Sawyer delivered an RBI single to get things started before consecutive base hits loaded the bases. Cross delivered the decisive blow, ripping a three-run single through the right side. Shaw later added another RBI single to cap the big inning.
Carey put the finishing touches on the run-rule victory in the fifth. Singles from Hogue and Dupre set the stage once again for Cross, who drove in her fourth run of the night with a single to left field.
Hornsby earned the win in the circle, allowing just three hits over five shutout innings.
William Carey returns to action Friday as it hosts UT Southern in SSAC play. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field.
