RIPON, Wis. – Carroll University (13-10, 2-8 CCIW) rallied late to overcome a 7-3 deficit and win 9-7 over Ripon College on Wednesday afternoon.
Ripon would open the scoring in the bottom of the first as the lead-off batter would reach on an error, advance on an errant pick-off and score on a double down the left field line to give the Redhawks the early 1-0 lead.
AJ Johnson would tie the game with one swing in the top of the second as he would drive the ball deep over the left field fence to tie the game at one.
Carroll would tack on a pair of runs in the top of the third as Brady Durni would walk to lead-off the inning and score on a two-out double of the bat of Jake Langford. Langford would steal third and score on a Johnson single to give the Pios the 3-1 lead.
Ripon would answer back with three runs in the bottom of the third and another in the bottom of the fourth to take the 5-3 lead.
The Redhawks would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth and have the bases loaded with no one out, looking to add more. Jacob Horner would take the mound in relieve and induce a line-drive double play and record a strike out to limit the damage, holding the deficit at 7-3.
The momentum would swing to the Pios as they would plate six runs in the top of the seventh. Matt Putman would walk with one out to start the really, Langford would single and Ethan Burns would reach on an error to load the bases with two outs. Pinch hitter Zach Meyer would drive in the first run on an infield single and Langford would score on a wild pitch. Hunter Frey would walk to load the bases and pinch hitter Dylan Callahan would drive the first pitch of his at bat off the right field wall to score Meyer and Burns to tie the game at seven. Brady Durni would reach on an infield single to score Frey and the ball would roll away from the first baseman allowing Callahan to score and the Pios to take the 9-7 lead.
From there the bullpen would shut down the Ripon offense. Horner would work a clean seventh, Seth Smith would handle the eighth inning and Max Maney would record his second save of the season as he closed the door in the ninth.
Carroll will return to CCIW action as they travel to Illinois Wesleyan for a three game weekend series starting on Saturday afternoon.
