WAUKESHA, Wis. - A tough, frustrating loss can often serve as a motivational tool for a team striving to play up to its potential.
The Carroll University baseball team took that to heart as it walked off the field following a stinging 22-7 seven-inning loss to North Park University to cap a cold, overcast College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Frame Park on Friday afternoon.
The contest was limited to seven innings as the 10-run mercy rule was enforced.
It was a disheartening home-field conference loss for Carroll, which dropped to 0-4 in the league standings and 9-6 overall.
North Park, 3-1 in league and 8-11 overall, scored five runs on four hits in the momentum-building top of the first inning, capped by a key three-run bases-loaded triple.
The Vikings extended the lead to 8-0 in the second as the result of back-to-back solo home runs and what became the game-winning run on an RBI groundout.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 8-2 in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring groundout by senior third baseman Hunter Frey (Kinnickinnic, Wis.) and an RBI double from junior left fielder Matt Putman (Lindenhurst, Ill.) 
The Pioneers added three runs in the third as Frey delivered a clutch two-run double and Putman followed with an RBI double.
North Park, which amassed 19 hits, scored twice in the fourth and responded with six runs in the fifth to ensure a victory.
Carroll cut the lead to 16-7 in the fifth as senior designated hitter A.J. Johnson (Waunakee, Wis.) - a second-team all-conference selection last year - delivered a two-out RBI double and Frey contributed a run-scoring single.
Despite the loss, the Pioneers continued to make progress by generating their conference high for runs in a game.
"There are positives that can be taken away from the game but in the end we basically shot ourselves in the foot," said Frey, a second-team all-conference choice last year who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and scored a run to lead Carroll's 12-hit offensive attack. "We just have to bounce back from it, come with a fire lit under our butts tomorrow and be ready to go.
"From top to bottom in the order, everyone can hit the ball so we just have to maintain a good approach at the plate, pick good pitches to hit and make the most each opportunity."
Frey was quick to point out that with the depth and talent of the conference, every game is a challenge but emphasized that the team can compete with anyone.
"It's a good conference but we can beat every one of them if we play up to our potential," Frey added. "There's always some pressure to get the first conference victory so hopefully we can accomplish that in our next game (referring to Saturday's series finale at North Park scheduled for 1 p.m.). It was a good feeling to be able to have a productive day at the plate but we need to consistently back it with solid defense and pitching. We had a successful trip to Arizona so now we just have to dig down and play with that same energy in the weeks to come."
Senior right-fielder Jacob Langford (Genoa, Ill.) followed with two hits for Carroll, which committed an uncharacteristic nine errors in the contest and stranded 11 baserunners.
Senior right-hander Josh Smith was the winning pitcher, scattering nine hits with one strikeout and four walks through five complete innings for North Park.
Junior right-hander Cameron Godinsky (Sycamore, Ill.) took the loss, yielding five earned runs on 11 hits with one strikeout and no walks through four innings.