DECATUR, Ala. – No. 18 William Carey (Miss.) defeated #9 Mobile (Ala.) 3-0 in a winner-take-all championship game at the 2018 SSAC Softball Championship, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.
Earlier in the day the Rams forced the deciding game as they defeated WCU, 3-0.
In the winner-take-all game Lindsey Johnson (Fr./Wetumpka, Ala.) was stellar in the circle as she tossed a two-hit shutout for the Crusaders with six strikeouts to earn SSAC Tournament MVP honors.
Carey scored first in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kimberly Gilbert (Sr./Saucier) ripped an RBI single to center field to score Harli Crow (Jr./Denham Springs, La.). WCU then tacked on two big runs in the bottom of the sixth when Maranda Busby (Fr./Moss Point) delivered a two-out, two-run single.
Mobile's biggest threat was in the fifth when it bunted two runners to second and third with one out, but Johnson got a pop out and strikeout after loading the bases with a walk.
WCU will be back in action on May 14-16 as it hosts the opening round of the NAIA Softball National Tournament at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field. Tournament brackets will be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
All-Tournament Team
Madison Staniloiu, Middle Georgia State
Caitlin Perry, Faulkner (Ala.)
Meagan Edmonds, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Emily Fleetwood, Mobile (Ala.)
Payton Adams, Mobile (Ala.)
Karley Sanders, Mobile (Ala.)
Kimberly Gilbert, William Carey (Miss.)
Hannah Moak (SR/Ruth, Miss.), William Carey (Miss.)
Lindsey Johnson, William Carey (Miss.)*
*Denotes 2018 SSAC Softball Championship MVP
