Box Score TUCSON, Ariz. – Carroll University (6-2, 0-0 CCIW) cruised to an impressive 9-1 win over Hamline University on Tuesday afternoon.
Carroll would strike first in the top of the second inning as Dylan Callahan and Alex Kermendy would single to start the inning. Ethan Burns would advance them both with a sacrifice bunt and Matt Putman would drive the first pitch of his at bat to right center to plate both runners to give the Pios the 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers would build on the lead in the top of the 5
th. Sam Harmeyer would single with one out and promptly steal second base. AJ Johnson would single home Harmeyer to push the lead to 3-0. Back-to-back singles by Callahan and Kermendy would drive home Johnson to give Carroll the 4-0 lead.
Hamline would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth. A walk and consecutive errors would cut the lead to 4-1 with no one out and runners at first and third. However, a strike-out followed by a picked off baserunner and a second strike-out would kill the rally and limit Hamline to just the one run.
Carroll would promptly answer with four runs in the top of the 7
th inning. Singles by Hunter Frey, Johnson and Callahan would load the bases with no outs. Kermendy would double to score Frey and Johnson. Burns would walk and Putman would single to drive home Callahan and Kermendy to extend the Pio lead to 8-1.
The Pioneers would tack on an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning as Harmeyer would score on a wild-pitch to push the final score to 9-1.
The Carroll University pitching effort was stellar. Starter Logan Johnson would work five and a third innings, surrending the one unearned run while striking out eight. Max Maney would work out of a huge jam in the sixth inning while working a perfect inning and two-thirds. Seth Smith and Hunter Amber would work the eighth and ninth innings respectively to seal the Pio victory.
The Pioneers will wrap up their Arizona trip on Wednesday as they face Carleton College and UW-Superior before flying back to Waukesha.
