Decatur, Ala. — William Carey kicked off the 2026 SSAC Softball Championship with two wins Thursday at the Wilson Morgan Sports Complex. The Lady Crusaders defeated Thomas University 7–3 and blanked Blue Mountain Christian 4–0.
In the first game, Thomas struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. Ava Nunez singled, advanced into scoring position, and scored on Alexis Adams’ RBI single to give the Nighthawks a 1–0 lead. William Carey responded immediately, tying the game on a sacrifice fly by Albanie Fussell and taking the lead on Julia Shaw’s RBI single. The game remained close until the third inning, when William Carey broke open the contest. The Lady Crusaders capitalized on a defensive error and timely hitting, with Jayden Sawyer driving in a run and Harper Dupre hitting a two-run double to extend their lead to 6–2.
William Carey added an insurance run in the fifth when Kinley Hogue hit an inside-the-park home run. Thomas scored a late run in the sixth, but Ryanne Hornsby closed the game strongly, retiring four batters in a row to secure the 7–3 victory.
The Lady Crusaders continued their winning streak in the nightcap, defeating Blue Mountain Christian 4–0. Carey opened the game with a rally in the first inning, with Brooklynn Montana and Caroline Lindsey reaching base and Fussell driving in a run on a single. Sawyer later drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 2–0.
Blue Mountain struggled to generate offense, managing only two baserunners through four innings. Carey added to its lead in the fourth, with Montana driving in a run on a sacrifice fly and another in the sixth on a wild pitch. Sawyer earned the complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out six over seven innings.
William Carey advances in the tournament and will face the winner of Faulkner versus Mobile at 10 a.m. Friday at the same location, according to the school.
