LEWISTON, Idaho – William Carey remained undefeated in the 2026 Avista NAIA World Series, rallying for a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over Mid-America Christian on Monday evening at Harris Field.
Mid-America Christian wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. After Sammy Hallada was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position, Nick Hill delivered with a single through the left side to bring Hallada home for the game's first run. MACU threatened to extend its lead later in the inning by loading the bases, but Carey starter Dylan Wallace worked out of the jam to keep it a one-run game.
William Carey answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Walters ignited the offense with an RBI double and advanced to third on a throwing error. He would eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Hays Carley, giving the Crusaders an early 2–1 lead.
Mid-America responded again in the second. Tuane Cope and Jahzeel Groetelaers opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Hallada later drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice to even the score at 2–2.
The Evangels regained the lead in the fourth inning when Frankie Giacalone led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Groetelaers. However, the advantage was short-lived, as Carey plated an unearned run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Walters to tie the game at 3–3.
The decisive moment appeared to come in the seventh inning when MACU broke through offensively. Jalen King sparked the inning with a double, and later in the inning, Krepcik put the Evangels ahead with a sacrifice fly. Cope then added an RBI single, allowing the Evangels to take a 5–3 lead into the late innings.
MACU's pitching staff held firm through the seventh and eighth innings, keeping the Carey offense in check and preserving the two-run lead heading into the ninth. However, the bottom of the final frame brought a dramatic shift.
William Carey mounted a two-out rally, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. With the game on the line, Walters delivered the biggest hit of the night. After fouling off multiple pitches to stay alive, he ripped a bases-clearing triple to left-center field, completing the stunning comeback.
William Carey returns to action on Wednesday, May 27, where they will face the winner of IU-Southeast/Tennessee Wesleyan and Southeastern (Fla.). First pitch is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at Harris Field.
Story courtesy of William Carey sports information