GULF SHORES, Ala. - (UHV vs. CMU Box Score) (WCU vs. IWU Box Score) William Carey (Miss.) and Central Methodist (Mo.) picked up shutout victories on day one of pool play action Thursday. The event is being held at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex for the second-straight year.

William Carey scored seven runs on seven hits to beat Indiana Wesleyan 7-0 and Central Methodist held off Houston-Victoria (Texas), 2-0. The Eagles were held to four hits, but Aubrey Utley worked around seven UHV hits to pick up the complete-game shutout victory. She fanned five and walked none.

Rebecca Lipsey finished 1-for-3 with one RBI for Central Methodist, while Marley Moehrig and Kori Kocian each finished with two hits for Houston-Victoria.

All of the offense came after a leadoff out in the fourth inning. Kelsey Johnley reached on a bunt single and then back-to-back doubles from Kayla Yount and Lipsey made it 2-0.

William Carey, meanwhile, scored early and often, with runs in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings. That was plenty of offense to back Alyssa Boutwell in the circle. Boutwell worked seven innings of two-hit shutout ball with four strikeouts and no walks.

At the plate, Jasmine Shelby went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Casey Alexander finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Lady Crusaders.

The eventual winning run came on a RBI groundout from Shelby, and then three runs on three hits in the third put William Carey up 4-0. Back-to-back one-out walks started the rally and Kayleigh Anspach capped the inning with a RBI-single.

In Pool F on Friday, William Carey will battle Central Methodist at 12:30 p.m. CDT and Houston-Victoria will face Indiana Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m.

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