Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - Carroll University (8-3) hung on for a thrilling 7-6 victory in 13 innings over MacMurray College (7-9) on Sunday afternoon.
MacMurray took the early 3-1 lead but Carroll would plate a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Micheal Jerik would lead off the inning drawing a walk and Brady Durni would send the ball over the right field fence to knot the game at three.
The Pioneers would take their first lead of the game in the seventh as Jerik, who would score three runs on the day, would score on a deep fly ball to center field off the bat of Hunter Frey to make the score 4-3 Carroll.
A homerun to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning for MacMurray would again tie the score at four. The score would stay tied until the top of the eleventh inning. Clayton Schmitt would lead off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a bobble by the rightfielder. Taylor Paepke would lay down a perfect push bunt that would advance Schmitt and find himself safe at first with no outs. A wild pitch would score Schmitt and move Paepke to second where he would promptly score on a Jerik single to push the Pio lead to 6-4.
Carroll would record the first two outs of the bottom of the eleventh and find themselves an out away from victory. However, a bunt single followed by a walk and a two out double would again knot the score at six.
Zach Meyer would lead off the thirteenth inning reaching on a fielding error and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jerik. Hunter Frey would then drive home his second run of the game with a line-drive single to score Meyer and allow the Pios to reclaim the lead 7-6.
MacMurray would again look to threaten as they would lead off the bottom half of the inning with a single. Following a ground out fielder's choice to record the first out of the inning, the Carroll middle infield would roll up a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally and seal the victory.
Cameron Godinsky (2-0) would earn the win on the mound, working the final two innings. Carroll received quality innings from starter Brian Jones (4 IP/1 ER), Carter Howard (4 IP/1ER) and Alex Morland (2 IP/0 ER).
Hunter Frey finished 2x6 with a pair of RBI including the game winner. Freshman Michael Jerik would finish the day 2x4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Carroll will return to action on Friday as the travel to Wheaton College to face Concordia (MN) at 11am and Edgewood College at 2pm.
