FORT MYERS, Fla. - Carroll University (4-3, 0-0 CCIW) overcame an early deficit to win 8-2 over Baruch College Monday afternoon.
A quick moving game that saw both pitchers working effectively lead to a scoreless tie through four innings.
In the top of the fifth the Baruch lead-off hitter would reach on a bunt single and advance to second on a throwing error. The following Baruch hitter would drop down a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate that would be errantly thrown into shallow right field allowing the lead off runner to cross the plate and give Baruch the 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers would respond in the bottom half of the fifth as Brady Durni would reach on a one-out single and eventually score on an infield single that AJ Johnson beat out to even the score at 1-1.
Carroll would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Hunter Frey would lead off the inning with his second hit of the day and score on an RBI triple over the right fielders head off the bat of catcher Micheal Rufer. Rufer had just caught his breath when he scored on a Jacob Horner sacrifice fly to center, extending the Pio lead to 3-1.
The lead would be pushed to 5-1 in the top of the seventh as Jacob Langford would single, steal second and eventually score on an errant throw by the Baruch pitcher. A Frey triple would later score Alex Kermendy from first to give Carroll the 5-1 cushion.
Five more hits in the top of the eighth inning would lead to three more Pioneer runs as they extended the lead to 8-1 and would eventually cruise to the 8-2 victory.
Hunter Frey would pace the Pio offense finishing 3x3 with a triple and an RBI, AJ Johnson was 3x4 in the game with an RBI as well.
Junior lefty Carter Howard (1-1) would turn in a brilliant start for the Pios. Howard worked seven and two-thirds innings, scattering just four hits, striking out 6 and not allowing an earned run.
Carroll will be back in action on Tuesday as they face the University of Dubuque at 9am EST. Follow the action with live Twitter updates at @Pio_Baseball.
