HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Tennessee Southern closed out its Southern States Athletic Conference series at No. 15 William Carey on Friday, splitting the final two games as the Firehawks rallied for a 9–8 win in game two before falling 4–3 in the series finale.
In game two, Tennessee Southern overcame an early deficit with a late offensive surge to even the series.
William Carey jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning, but the Firehawks began to chip away in the third. Evan Nelson reached and Anthony Pastrana followed, setting the table before Cooper Phillips delivered a two-RBI single to cut the deficit in half.
The Firehawks continued to battle back in the fifth. Zac Wilson doubled and later scored, while Masato Mizumori added a sacrifice fly to trim the margin to 6–4.
Tennessee Southern completed the comeback in the sixth with a decisive five-run inning. Pastrana doubled to spark the rally before Wilson worked a walk. Reagan Tomlin delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game, and Phillips followed with an RBI double. Gage Beckner added an RBI single, and Nelson drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Firehawks a 9–8 lead.
On the mound, Drew Sharp delivered a key relief outing, tossing four innings to earn the win while limiting damage and keeping the Firehawks within striking distance. Collin Perkins closed the door with two shutout innings, striking out three to secure the save.
Phillips led the Firehawks with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Pastrana added a double, scored twice, and drove in a run, while Tomlin delivered two RBIs. Nelson reached base multiple times, drove in a run, and scored once. Beckner added a hit and an RBI, and Wilson contributed a hit, a double, and scored twice.
In the series finale, Tennessee Southern battled in another tight contest but came up just short in a 4–3 loss.
The Firehawks broke through in the third inning when Nelson delivered an RBI single to score Carson Foote, tying the game at 1–1.
Tennessee Southern took the lead in the fourth. Phillips singled and later scored, and Beckner used aggressive baserunning to come around as Mizumori drove in a run to give the Firehawks a 3–1 advantage.
William Carey answered in the sixth to tie the game, and after both teams traded scoreless innings late, the Crusaders pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Nelson led the Firehawks with two hits and an RBI, while Phillips added a hit and a run scored. Beckner scored a run and applied pressure on the bases, and Mizumori drove in a run. Zac Wilson added a hit, and Devin Thrain reached base multiple times.
On the mound, Cooper Bailey delivered a strong start, working five innings while allowing three runs and striking out five. The bullpen of Braydon Kercado, Mac Etheredge, and Will Vines combined for 3.0 scoreless innings to keep the Firehawks in front before the final frame.
Tennessee Southern returns to action Tuesday, April 7, traveling to Huntsville to face NCAA Division II opponent UAH.
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