JACKSON, Tenn. – Blue Mountain Christian was searching for its first SSAC Championship title here Saturday, but it was spoiled by a walk-off grand slam from William Carey's Jake Lycette in the seventh inning.
The No. 2 Seed Crusaders, a perennial NAIA contender, would take the conference title 15-4 in seven innings over the No. 8 Seed Toppers.
The Crusaders jumped on the board first in the bottom of the second with a sac-fly from Caleb Laird to take a 1-0 lead against BMCU starter Jackson Siler.
The Toppers struck for four runs in the third against Carey starter Josh MacCord, who would leave the game with an injury.
The inning was highlighted by a two-run single to right by Will Crawford, giving BMCU a 4-1 lead.
Carey would later answer with a pair of runs in the in the third and fourth innings, making it 4-3.
The Crusaders would knock Siler out of the game in the fifth and go on to score five runs in the inning with Matt Koch coming on in relief.
WCU plated another in the sixth before the big blow from Lycette came in the seventh off BMCU's Shaine O'Keefe.
"Our guys have played with great heart, not just in this tournament, but all year," BMCU head coach Taylor Clark said.  "There is absolutely nothing for our guys to hang their heads about and we still have a lot to play for in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship.  It's been an historic season for us, and we're going to keep grinding in the national tournament."
Will Crawford was Blue Mountain's catalyst at the plate, driving in two runs.  Koch (4-5) suffered the loss in relief for BMCU.
Next up for the Toppers will be its first-ever trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.  A total of 10 venues will host the opening round, with play set for May 13-16.  BMCU will learn its destination Thursday, May 9 at 4 p.m. CT when the NAIA presents its National Championship Selection Show here.
 
 
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