WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Crusaders are headed back to Lewiston, Idaho after rallying for a dramatic 13–11 victory over Cumberlands (Ky.) on Wednesday afternoon at Terry Stigall Field.
"I thought it was one of the best comebacks I've ever been a part of," said head coach
Bobby Halford. "We were just trying to fight our way back and keep the game within reach, mixing and matching different pitchers. Credit to our guys for never giving up and coming through with clutch hits when we needed them, and to
Matthew Davis, who was lights out in the final two innings to seal the win."
William Carey struck first in the opening inning as
DeeJay Booth launched a solo home run to right field. Cumberlands threatened in the second, loading the bases, but a caught stealing ended the inning and preserved the early lead.
The Crusaders added to their advantage in the third inning when
Jayden Mark connected on a solo shot to left, pushing the lead to 2–0. However, the momentum quickly shifted in the bottom half of the inning as the Patriots erupted for six runs on five hits.
Cumberlands' rally began with an RBI single by Derick Andiarena, followed by a three-run homer to right-center from Ronald Almanzar that gave UC a 4–2 lead. A two-run double by S. De La Cruz capped the inning and extended the Patriots' lead to 6–2.
The Patriots continued to build their lead in the fourth inning. Andiarena led off with a solo home run, and later Caden Petrey added a two-run blast, stretching the margin to 9–2. Almanzar tacked on another run with a solo homer in the sixth, giving Cumberlands a commanding eight-run advantage.
For much of the middle innings, the Crusaders' offense was quiet against Cumberlands pitching. That changed dramatically in the top of the eighth inning, when William Carey delivered a game-altering rally.
The Crusaders scored 10 runs on seven hits in the inning, batting around and then some. The comeback began with a two-run double by
Franklin Hernandez, followed by an RBI double from
Tyler Ducksworth that cut the deficit in half.
Alan McClean kept the momentum rolling with a two-run double of his own.
Booth delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a towering three-run home run to left-center to tie the contest at 10–10. William Carey wasn't finished, adding two more runs in the inning on a wild pitch and another on an RBI single from Hernandez to take a 12–10 lead after entering the frame trailing by eight.
The Crusaders added an insurance run in the ninth inning when McClean singled home Ducksworth to extend the lead to 13–10. Cumberlands made one final push in the bottom half, as Petrey launched his second home run of the game, but it wasn't enough. Davis retired the next two batters to secure the comeback victory.
With the win, William Carey advances to the Avista NAIA World Series, set for May 22–30 in Lewiston, Idaho.
