GULF SHORES, Ala. — William Carey opened the Gulf Coast Invitational with a 3-0 victory over No. 13 University of the Cumberlands on Friday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
The Crusaders scored early in the second inning. Julia Shaw was hit by a pitch, and Harper Dupre delivered a two-out RBI single to give Carey a 1-0 lead. Pitcher Jayden Sawyer struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to set the tone defensively.
Carey threatened in the third and fourth innings but was unable to add to its lead. The team’s defense and Sawyer’s dominant pitching kept Cumberlands without a baserunner through six innings. The Patriots’ first hit came in the seventh on a single by Grace Ross, but Sawyer ended the game with a strikeout to secure the shutout.
In the fifth inning, the Crusaders extended their lead. Liz Cross doubled to left center, and Brooklynn Montana followed with an RBI double. Albanie Fussell then delivered a run-scoring single to push the lead to 3-0.
William Carey returns to action Saturday, facing No. 9 Our Lady of the Lake at 3:45 p.m. and Bethel University at 6 p.m., both at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
