STEENS, Miss. — William Carey University’s baseball team split a doubleheader against Eureka College on Friday at CCA Field. The Owls (18-15, 12-6 SLIAC) won the first game 15-11 before losing the second game 16-6 in eight innings due to a run-rule.
In the opener, William Carey led early but was caught in the fifth inning. The game saw multiple tie scores and lead changes in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The Owls secured the win with a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, turning an 11-8 deficit into a 13-11 victory.
Senior second baseman Zack Egan went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He drew two walks and had a sacrifice hit. Leadoff hitter Matthew Windham went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Chase Marshall and Zach Johnson each collected two hits, with Johnson hitting his team-leading 10th home run of the season in the sixth inning. Johnson also scored three times and walked once. Both teams finished with 13 hits apiece.
Connor Reilly earned his first win of the season, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. He was the third pitcher for William Carey in the game.
The second game was dominated by Eureka, which scored three runs in the first inning and nine in the third to take control. Zach Connell took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing nine earned runs. He struck out five and walked two.
At the plate, Colton Neal went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run before being hit in the face by a pitch in the fifth inning. Baron Brack, Jack Sledge, and Swayze Rikard each had multiple hits, with Brack and Michael O’Neill each adding a double. Zach Johnson extended his hitting streak to 20 games and his on-base streak to 32 games this season.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at CCA Field.
