Hattiesburg, Miss. — Blue Mountain Christian took an early lead but was overtaken by William Carey in the late innings, losing 12-8 in the teams’ season-ending game Friday.
The Toppers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a grand slam. They extended their advantage to 6-0 in the fifth after Trace Roy delivered a two-RBI single that scored Ross Polizzi and Cody Presley.
The Crusaders responded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-3. Blue Mountain Christian pushed the lead to 8-4 in the seventh on an RBI single by Reise Thomas that scored Jarrett Morris. The Toppers finished with 11 hits, led by Morris, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Roy had two hits and two RBIs, and Presley added a double.
On the mound, Chris Matthews started for Blue Mountain Christian, working 4.1 innings and allowing two earned runs. Caleb Hall pitched 2.2 innings in relief. Despite their early offensive effort, William Carey rallied in the eighth inning, scoring eight runs to take the lead and ultimately secure the victory.
The Toppers showed resilience throughout the game, scoring in four different innings and demonstrating strong offensive production against a nationally ranked opponent. They honored their seniors for their leadership and effort during the 2026 season.
