Williamsburg, Ky. – William Carey outlasted Missouri Baptist in a high-scoring, back-and-forth battle, using a massive midgame surge to secure a 13–9 victory Monday night in the 2026 NAIA Opening Round.
Carey wasted no time applying pressure in the top of the first inning. After a pair of walks and a double steal put two runners in scoring position,
Franklin Hernandez delivered with a two-run single up the middle to give the Crusaders a quick 2–0 lead.
After being held hitless through the first three innings, the Spartans offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth. Missouri Baptist surged ahead with five runs on six hits, highlighted by Carlos Hidalgo's three-run homer to left-center that capped the rally. RBI singles from Angelo Franco and Kai Gray helped fuel the inning and give MBU a 5–2 advantage.
William Carey responded immediately in the top of the fifth, as Hernandez struck again with a towering three-run home run to left that tied the game 5–5. Missouri Baptist answered in the bottom half of the inning, reclaiming the lead on Franco's two-run homer to make it 7–5.
The decisive sequence came in the sixth inning, when William Carey's offense erupted for five runs despite recording just two hits. Taking advantage of walks, hit-by-pitches, and a defensive miscue, the Crusaders pieced together a relentless rally that included RBI contributions from
Taylor Walters,
Hays Carley,
Tyler Ducksworth, and
Barron Frazer. The surge flipped a two-run deficit into a 10–7 Carey lead.
Carey continued to build its cushion late, manufacturing two runs in the seventh and adding another in the ninth. Hernandez capped a standout performance with a run-scoring double in the final frame.
Missouri Baptist made one final push in the ninth, as Sam Paule launched a two-run homer to trim the deficit, but the rally fell short as the Crusaders induced two routine flyouts to secure the 13–9 win.
Jimmie Johnson earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits while working four innings.
William Carey returns to action Tuesday, facing the winner of Bryan College and Cumberlands (Ky.) at 2:30 p.m. at Terry Stigall Field.
