LEWISTON, Idaho- No. 10 William Carey (Miss.) stunned No. Mid-America Christian (Okla.) at Harris Field on Monday afternoon with a 6-5 walk-off win, scoring three runs in the ninth inning, sparked by a triple from Taylor Walters. The game’s hero finished 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and drove in all five of William Carey’s runs.
The Evangels looked in control for most of the day behind starter Fabian Hernandez, who worked eight strong innings and allowed just three hits and three runs, only one earned, while striking out five. They carried a 5-3 advantage into the bottom of the ninth.
MACU struck first in the top of the first when Nick Hill lined an RBI single to left to bring home Sammy Hallada for a 1-0 lead. The Crusaders answered immediately in the bottom half, as Taylor Walters ripped an RBI double and later came home on Hays Carley’s sacrifice fly, pushing the Crusaders in front 2–1.
Mid-America Christian tied it in the second on a fielder’s choice that plated Tuane Cope, then regained the lead in the fourth when Jahzeel Groetelaers punched an RBI single through the left side to score Frankie Giacalone. William Carey evened the game at 3–3 in the fifth on Walters’ sacrifice fly.
The Evangels delivered what looked like the deciding blow in the seventh. Cole Krepcik lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jalen King, then Cope followed with an RBI single to right to make it 5-3. Mid-America Christian finished with 10 hits, getting multi-hit games from Hill (2-for-5), Cope (2-for-5), and Groetelaers (2-for-4). Giacalone reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
The game flipped in the ninth inning. After Hernandez exited, William Carey rallied against reliever Angel Miranda. With runners aboard, Walters lashed a triple to left-center that cleared the bases and turned a two-run deficit into a 6-5 walk-off win.
On the mound, William Carey’s Jimmie Johnson earned the win with three innings of relief, allowing one run while working around three walks. Miranda took the loss after recording two outs and surrendering three runs in the decisive ninth.
The Crusaders continue in the winners’ bracket and will return to action on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Evangels will play No. 1 Taylor (Ind.) on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
