WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll University (9-18, 4-8 CCIW) split their double header with conference leading North Central (12-9, 8-2 CCIW) dropping game one 7-2 before winning 17-7 in game two.
Game one was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when North Central pushed across the first run of the game to take the 1-0 lead. The Cardinals would push across another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 2-0.
Carroll would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Ryan Hetherington and Mike Rufer would record back-to-back singles to start the inning. Drew Tanck would move both runners over and Jake Langford would fly out to left, allowing Hetherington to score and make the score 2-1.
North Central would add three runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 5-1.
Hetherington would lead off the bottom of the seventh and score on a Tanck double to right-center to cut the lead to 5-2.
North Central would tally single runs in the eighth and ninth to push the lead to 7-2.
Carroll would load the bases in the ninth inning, but a line drive to left was tracked down to record the final out and seal the win for the Cardinals.
Game two would see more offense. North Central would open the game with a lead-off triple that would score on a two-out bases loaded walk to give the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers would come out swinging in the bottom half of the first. Langford would lead off with a single to left and a batter later Hunter Frey would double to put runners at second and third. Langford would then score on an AJ Johnson single and Frey would score on a Hetherington single to give Carroll the 2-1 lead.
North Central would answer with a pair of runs in the top of the second to retake the lead 3-2.
With two outs in the bottom of the second Jacob Horner would drive a pitch over the left field fence to even the game at three.
Hetherington would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a double and promptly score on Matt Putman single to extend the Pio lead to 4-3. Putman would steal second and eventually score on a Horner groundout to give Carroll the 5-3 lead.
A two-run homerun off the bat of West Allis native, Nick Sotiros of North Central would tie the game at five after four and a half innings.
A lead-off walk to Harmeyer to start the bottom of the fifth would be followed by a two-run homerun off the bat of Frey to re-give Carroll the 7-5 lead. The Pios would push across three more runs in the inning to take the 10-5 advantage.
AJ Johnson would single with one out in the sixth and Hetherington would drive the ball over the right field fence to extend the lead to 12-5. Putman would follow with a double and later score on a wild pitch to give the Pios a 13-5 edge.
North Central would plate a couple of runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 13-7.
Horner would lead off the seventh with a single and stolen base. Frey would walk and Horner would score on a Johnson single to make the score 13-7. Hetherington would then drive a fastball deep over the right field fence to give the Pios the 17-7 walk-off win by the ten-run mercy rule.
Sophomore Logan Johnson (2-0) would pick up his second win in as many days as he worked four and two-thirds innings in relief of starter Jake Sweet. Johnson would strike out four.
Ryan Hetherington would be the hitting standout of the day. Hetherington would finish the double-header 7 for 8 with six runs scored and six RBI including a double and two homeruns.
Carroll will return to action when they travel to North Central next Wednesday for the third and final game of the season series. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.
