DECATUR, Ala. – Top-seeded Wiliam Carey beat No. 3 Mobile twice to win the 2026 SSAC Softball Championship, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.
The tournament title is the fifth all-time for the Crusaders’ softball program. Both William Carey and Mobile have been selected as host sites for the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, while other SSAC teams will await word on possible at-large selections.
Winner-Take-All Game | #1 William Carey def. #3 Mobile 1-0
Ryanne Hornsby tossed a complete-game shutout for the Crusaders to outduel Katelynn Kempton and Avery Harrell, who combined for seven innings of two-run ball.
The fifth was the decisive inning, with three-straight batters reaching with one out, culminating in a two-run double from Kinley Hogue. Mobile threatened in the third, with two of the first three batters reaching, but Hornsby got out of it.
Albanie Fussell went 2-for-4 at the dish for the Crusaders, while Hogue went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
First Championship Game | #1 William Carey def. #3 Mobile 2-0
- The Crusaders got their runs in the second and sixth innings on RBI hits from Julia Shaw
- Jayden Sawyer tossed a three-hit shutout to best Avery Harrell, who tossed six innings of two-run ball
- Shaw and Kinley Hogue each had a pair of hits