BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. — William Carey University’s softball team opened the doubleheader with an 8-0 run-rule victory before narrowly defeating Blue Mountain 7-6 in the second game, according to the school.
In the opener, Carey quickly took control. Brooklynn Montana reached safely to start the game and advanced into scoring position. An error loaded the bases, and Albanie Fussell drove in the first run with an RBI single. Kinley Hogue followed with a two-run double, giving the Lady Crusaders a 3-0 lead before recording an out.
Carey extended its lead in the fourth inning. Liz Cross singled and moved to third before Caroline Lindsey hit an RBI single. Jayden Sawyer then delivered a three-run single, pushing the lead to 7-0. Ryanne Hornsby added an RBI single later in the inning. Sawyer pitched a complete game, scattering two hits and striking out five to secure the mercy-rule win.
The second game started similarly, with Carey taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly from Lindsey after a walk and a throwing error. Blue Mountain threatened in the third, but Carey responded with a four-run rally, highlighted by consecutive hits from Hornsby, Cross, and Montana, and a two-run single from Lindsey. Fussell added an RBI single, and another run scored on a passed ball, making it 5-0.
The Toppers responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring on Aspen Teague’s RBI single. Carey answered in the fourth with a run on Montana’s single, restoring a five-run lead. Blue Mountain made a push in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring two runs on a double from Bre Ramsey. Carey’s pitcher Jayden Sawyer entered relief in the fifth and kept the Toppers from tying the game.
Carey added an insurance run in the sixth, and Blue Mountain scored again in the bottom of the inning. The Toppers had runners in scoring position in the seventh, but Sawyer induced a groundout to end the game and secure the sweep. The Lady Crusaders are scheduled to play next Saturday at UT Southern in Pulaski, Tennessee.
