HATTIESBURG, Miss. — William Carey University defeated No. 14 Mobile in both games of a softball doubleheader Sunday on senior day. The Lady Crusaders won the opener 2-0 and completed the sweep with a 1-0 walk-off victory in the nightcap, according to school officials.
Both teams’ pitching staffs limited scoring opportunities throughout the series. In the first game, Mobile threatened early when Daryelin Rivas drew a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position in the first inning, but Carey starter Jayden Sawyer struck out back-to-back batters to strand two runners. Carey responded in the bottom of the inning with Liz Cross hitting a single and Julia Shaw driving in the game’s only run with a single up the middle, giving the Lady Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
Defense played a crucial role for both teams. Mobile had a bases-loaded chance in the fourth inning but was denied by a diving play from second baseman Harper Dupre. Carey added an insurance run in the same inning when Sawyer hit a solo home run to center field, extending the lead to 2-0. Sawyer pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and striking out five.
The second game was a pitchers’ duel, with neither team scoring through more than six innings. Mobile put runners on base early but was unable to score, as Carey’s defense kept the Rams off the board, stranding six runners. The Rams threatened again in the fourth inning with a leadoff single by Mileyshka Soto Trujillo and a subsequent double play by shortstop Kinley Hogue. Carey finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh when Cross and Montana singled to put runners on first and second, and Caroline Lindsey delivered the walk-off single to right field, allowing Cross to score.
Hornsby pitched a complete game for Carey, allowing no runs on six hits. The Lady Crusaders will next play Friday at Blue Mountain Christian in an SSAC matchup scheduled for 2 p.m., according to the school.
