JACKSON, Tenn. — William Carey erased an early six-run deficit to beat Thomas University 9-8 Thursday at Rockabilly’s Stadium.
Thomas took control early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning. Elias Garcia and Seth Waltimyer drew back-to-back walks, and Jaylen Roque was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lucas Dufresne drove in the game’s first run with a single. Brayden Lawhon followed with a two-RBI single, and Gabe Tafelski added a two-RBI single up the middle. Nathaniel Slaughter capped the inning with an RBI single, giving the Night Hawks a 6-0 lead.
William Carey responded in the bottom of the first without recording a hit. DeeJay Booth and Taylor Walters drew consecutive walks, and Franklin Hernandez reached on a walk to load the bases. Hays Carley forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Tyler Ducksworth added a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
The Crusaders chipped away in the second inning when Walters doubled and Jayden Mark brought him home with a single. Thomas answered in the third with RBIs from Slaughter and Garcia, pushing the lead back to 8-3. William Carey kept fighting, scoring in the fourth and fifth innings to narrow the margin to 8-6.
The game turned in the bottom of the seventh. Nic Arender led off with a single, and with the bases loaded after an intentional walk to Booth, Walters brought in a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7. Franklin Hernandez then drew a bases-loaded walk, tying the game. A wild pitch scored the go-ahead run, giving William Carey a 9-8 lead.
Jimmie Johnson pitched the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner and earning the save. Dylan Wallace earned the win in relief, scattering six hits and striking out six over 6.1 innings. William Carey returns to action Friday to finish pool play against Loyola University, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m., according to the team.
