WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll University (10-22, 5-12 CCIW) split a home double header with Elmhurst College (17-15, 10-8 CCIW) on Sunday afternoon winning the opener 13-12 and dropping the night cap 9-6.
Elmhurst would strike early as they would open the game by drawing a walk followed by a two-run homerun to take the early 2-0 lead.
A solo homerun from Elmhurst's AJ Compton would push the visitor's lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning.
Carroll would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Zach Meyer would reach on a single to start the inning. Meyer would steal second and score on a one out single by Sam Harmeyer to bring the Pios to within 3-1.
Elmhurst would strike again in the top of the sixth on Compton's second homerun of the game, a three run shot to left field to give the Blue Jays a 6-1 lead.
The Pios would answer in the bottom of the sixth plating five runs to even the score at six. Junior AJ Johnson would lead off the inning with a solo shot to deep left to open the scoring. Brady Durni and Matt Putman would follow with back-to-back singles. Durni would score on a Mike Rufer single to cut the lead to 6-3 before Hunter Frey would send the Elmhurst offering over the left field fence for a three run round tripper that tied the score at six.
The last three innings would be a battle of attrition as offense dominated the day. Elmhurst would plate a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead 8-6. Carroll would answer with three runs in the bottom half on RBI singles from Nolan Heck and Rufer to lead 9-8 after seven complete.
Elmhurst would score three in the top of the eighth to take the 11-9 lead. Jake Langford and Johnson would single to start the bottom of the eighth before Durni would drive a pitch down the left field line for a three-run homerun to retake the lead 12-11.
Following a walk to open the top of the ninth inning, pitcher Logan Johnson would induce a 6-4-3 double play to leave Elmhurst down to their final out. Unfortunately, a pair of fielding errors would extend the inning before a single to center field would allow the tying run to score and send the game to the bottom of the ninth inning tied at twelve.
Michael Jerik would walk to open the bottom of the ninth for Carroll and Zach Meyer would single. Frey would walk to load the bases and Harmeyer would single back up the middle on a 3-1 count to give the Pioneers the 13-12 win in game one.
Logan Johnson (3-1) would earn the win on the mound working the last inning and two-thirds in relief.
Game two Elmhurst would open the scoring on a solo shot in the top of the second for the 1-0 lead.
Carroll would get on the board in the bottom of the third. Frey would single to start the inning and Harmeyer would double to put runners on second and third. Langford would be hit by a pitch to load the bases.
AJ Johnson would promptly double to right-center to plate Frey and Harmeyer. Matt Putman would then hit a deep fly ball to center that would allow Langford to tag and score to give the Pios the 3-1 lead.
Elmhurst would reclaim the lead with a single run in the top of the fourth and four more runs in the top of the fifth to take the 6-3 advantage.
Nolan Heck would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a double and advance to third on a Dylan Callahan hard ground ball that was misplayed by Elmhurst. Heck would then score on a sacrifice fly and pinch runner, Ethan Fleigle would score on a two-out single by Langford to cut the lead to 6-5.
The Blue Jays would plate two more runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 8-5.
Brady Durni would open the bottom of the seventh reaching on a defensive error and eventually score on a Jerik ground out to bring the Pios to within 8-6.
Elmhurst would add another run in the top of the eighth to push the advantage to 9-6 and hold off the Pioneers to earn the double header split.
Carroll University will return to action on Tuesday as they host North Park at Frame Park in CCIW play.
