HATTIESBURG, Miss. — William Carey’s baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader against UT Southern at Milton Wheeler Field. The Crusaders fell 9–8 in the first game before winning the second 4–3 with a walk-off in the ninth inning, according to school officials.
In the opener, DeeJay Booth started strong with a leadoff home run to right field in the bottom of the first. Carey followed with a six-hit inning, highlighted by three consecutive two-out RBI singles from Tyler Ducksworth, Cam Senior and Gage Hinnant, which gave the Crusaders a 4–0 lead.
The Crusaders extended their lead to 5–0 in the second on a sacrifice fly by Jayden Mark. UT Southern responded with two runs in the third, and Booth drove in his second run of the day with a single in the bottom half. Both teams remained scoreless in the fourth before the Firehawks scored two runs in the fifth to cut Carey’s lead to 8–4.
Carey answered immediately, scoring twice in the bottom of the inning on RBI hits from Booth and Taylor Walters to push the lead back to 8–4. However, UT Southern rallied in the sixth, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs, including Reagan Tomlin’s two-run double that tied the game. Cooper Phillips added an RBI double, and Gage Beckner and Evan Nelson contributed RBI singles and a bases-loaded walk, giving the Firehawks a 9–8 lead. UT Southern held on in the seventh to secure the win.
In the second game, Booth again started the scoring with a leadoff single, stealing second and scoring on Jayden Mark’s RBI double. UT Southern tied the game in the third after capitalizing on a hit batter and a throwing error. Carson Foote advanced to third before Nelson singled him home, making it 1–1.
The Firehawks took control in the fourth inning. After a single and a walk, Gage Beckner stole third and scored on an error. Later, Beckner stole second and scored on another error, extending UT Southern’s lead to 3–1. Carey mounted a comeback in the sixth, with Booth drawing a walk and scoring on Walters’ RBI single. Hays Carley later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3–3.
Both teams remained scoreless through the eighth and ninth innings until Hinnant was hit by a pitch, and Weston Wales followed with a single. After a fielder’s choice erased Hinnant at third, Booth lined a single down the right-field line to score Wales from second and secure the walk-off victory. Dylan Wallace earned the win in relief, tossing four shutout innings with five strikeouts.
The Crusaders are scheduled to return to action Tuesday, April 7, hosting Southern University at New Orleans at 5 p.m. at Milton Wheeler Field, according to school officials.
