JACKSON, Tenn. – William Carey erased an early six-run deficit to rally past Thomas University, 9–8, Thursday night at Rockabilly's Stadium.
Thomas wasted no time taking control, erupting for six runs in the top of the first inning to put the Crusaders on their heels. Elias Garcia and Seth Waltimyer led off with back-to-back walks, and Jaylen Roque was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lucas Dufresne plated the game's first run with a single through the right side.
The Night Hawks kept the pressure on as Brayden Lawhon drove in two runs with a single to right-center. Gabe Tafelski followed with a two-RBI single up the middle, and Nathaniel Slaughter capped the inning with an RBI single to right, giving Thomas a 6–0 advantage.
William Carey responded immediately despite not recording a hit in the bottom of the first.
DeeJay Booth and
Taylor Walters drew consecutive walks, and
Franklin Hernandez reached with another free pass to load the bases with one out.
Hays Carley forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and
Tyler Ducksworth added a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 6–2.
The Crusaders chipped away in the second inning when Walters doubled and
Jayden Mark brought him home with a single, cutting the lead to three. Thomas answered in the third, however, as RBIs from Slaughter and Garcia pushed the margin back to 8–3.
WCU stayed resilient and continued its comeback in the fourth. Walters delivered an RBI single, and Booth later scored on a throwing error to make it 8–5. Carey pulled even closer in the fifth when Mark drove in another run with an RBI double, narrowing the gap to 8–6.
The turning point came in the bottom of the seventh.
Nic Arender led off with a single,
Alan McClean was hit by a pitch with Booth reaching on an intentional walk to load the bases. Walters brought Carey within one with his second sacrifice fly of the night.
Hernandez followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score as the Crusaders surged in front, 9–8.
Out of the bullpen,
Jimmie Johnson sealed the win, allowing just one baserunner over the final two innings to earn the save.
Dylan Wallace was outstanding in relief, scattering six hits and allowing only two runs while striking out six over 6.1 innings to pick up the victory.
William Carey returns to action tomorrow to wrap up pool play against Loyola University. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
