HATTIESBURG, Miss. — William Carey started conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Abraham Baldwin on Friday evening at Milton Wheeler Field. The Crusaders won the first game 7-4 and the second 6-4.
In the opener, Carey took an early lead with a run in the first inning on a Tyler Ducksworth RBI single. Abraham Baldwin responded with a two-run homer in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Carey answered back in the bottom half, tying the game on an Alan McClean RBI single. The Crusaders took control in the third, capitalizing on a fielding error that allowed DeeJay Booth to score. Cam Senior then drove in an RBI single, and a wild pitch extended Carey’s lead to 5-2.
The Stallions threatened late, cutting the margin to 6-4 in the eighth on a two-run home run by T. Lee. Carey responded immediately, with Weston Wales scoring on a clutch RBI single from Gage Hinnant to restore a three-run cushion. Closer Dylan Wallace finished the game with a perfect ninth inning to secure the win.
In the second game, Abraham Baldwin jumped ahead early, scoring a sacrifice fly and then a solo home run to right-center in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Carey responded in the bottom of the inning, with Ducksworth hitting an RBI double and Jayden Mark adding a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. The Stallions regained the lead in the fourth on a throwing error and an RBI double from C. Campbell, pushing the score to 4-2.
The game remained close until the seventh, when Senior singled and Franklin Hernandez drew a walk. Cam McClean sacrificed both runners into scoring position. With the bases loaded, Booth hit a towering grand slam to straightaway center, sealing Carey’s 6-4 walk-off win and completing the sweep. The teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at Milton Wheeler Field.
