LEWISTON, Idaho- William Carey (Miss.) turned a fast start into a runaway win Wednesday night, rolling past Southeastern (Fla.) 17-7 in seven innings at Harris Field.
The Crusaders built an 11-2 cushion by the end of the third inning before breaking the game open with a six-run sixth frame to total 17 runs. Southeastern tallied 14 hits and briefly cut into the deficit mid-game, but four defensive errors and hot bats from William Carey proved too much to overcome.
William Carey’s Hays Carley delivered the early blow with a two-run double to start the game, and a throwing error at third base allowed two more runs to score, making it 4-0 before the first inning was out. Southeastern’s Peddycoart exited after just 0.1 inning of work. The Crusaders kept up the offensive tempo in the second frame, when Franklin Hernandez doubled down the left-field line to drive in two more runs and extend the lead to 6-0.
The Fire responded in the third with an RBI double from Cooper Ciesielski and a sacrifice fly by Charlie Collins to trim the margin to 6-2, but the Crusaders answered immediately in the bottom of the frame. DeeJay Booth and Taylor Walters each drove in runs before Jayden Mark broke things open with a three-run home run, pushing the lead to 11-2.
Southeastern continued to battle, chipping away at the deficit before breaking through again in the sixth when Collins delivered a two-run double. A throwing error on the same play allowed another run to score, pulling the Fire within four, trailing 11–7, as they briefly shifted momentum.
The SEU comeback was halted in the bottom of the sixth. William Carey erupted for six more runs, highlighted by Tyler Ducksworth’s solo home run, Mark’s two-run single that brought his RBI total to five, an RBI single from Carley, and an additional unearned run following another Southeastern miscue. The surge pushed the margin to 17-7, and the Crusaders closed things out from there.
Mark led the offensive charge, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs, while Walters went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Booth added an RBI single and scored four times, Carley drove in three runs, and Ducksworth contributed two RBIs with his home run.
For Southeastern, Collins finished with three RBIs, Parry went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Ciesielski added two hits, an RBI double, and two runs scored. William Carey finished with 14 hits and turned them into 17 runs, while Southeastern collected 14 hits.
Matthew Davis earned the win on the bump for William Carey, working 5.2 innings and allowing seven runs on 13 hits.
Thursday’s slate has been adjusted due to forecasted inclement weather. The contest between Tennessee Wesleyan and Southeastern, originally scheduled for 3 p.m. PT, has been moved to 12:30 p.m. PT. The second game of the day between Taylor and William Carey will now begin at 4 p.m. PT instead of its original 6:30 p.m. PT start time.
