WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll University (10-7, 0-5
CCIW) out-slugged former Midwest Conference rival St. Norbert (10-5, 0-0 MWC) by the score of 13-10 on a blustery Monday afternoon.
After a scoreless top of the first, the Pioneer bats came out hot, unlike the weather. The Pios would load the bases on an error and two walks before plating the first run of the game as Alex Kermendy would reach on a fielder's choice to score lead-off hitter Jake Langford. Freshman catcher, Ethan Burns, would then double to the left-center gap to score Sam Harmeyer and Kermendy to give Carroll the early 3-0 advantage.
Langford would add to the Pioneer lead in the bottom of the second as a double would score Jacob Horner from first bases to push the lead to 4-0.
An RBI double off the bat of Zach Meyer, followed by RBI singles from Mitch Carlson and Horner would give the Pios a 7-0 lead after just three innings.
St. Norbert would get on the board in the top of the fourth. A walk, hit batter and fielding error would load the bases with just one out and following a fielder's choice to retire the runner at home, a two-out double would score a pair of runs for the Green Knights to cut the Carroll lead to 7-2.
The Pioneers would answer in the bottom of the fourth. A Harmeyer single and AJ Johnson double would put runners at second and third with just one out in the inning. Kermendy would follow with a double down the left field line to score both runners and push the lead to 9-2. Burns would promptly single to score Kermendy and make the score 10-2 after four innings.
St. Norbert would break though against Carroll starting pitcher Andrew Stone in the top of the fifth. A walk, hit batter and back-to-back doubles to start the inning would eventually lead to four runs in the inning for the Green Knights to make the score 10-6.
The Green Knights would add another run on a Tyler Banovich solo shot in the top of the sixth to close the gap to 10-7.
Carroll would answer in the bottom half and Meyer would get hit and score on a Horner single to extend the lead to 11-7.
St. Norbert would plate a single run in the top of the seventh on another solo homerun to make the score 11-8.
Carroll would extend the lead in the top of the eighth inning as again, Meyer would get hit and score on a Horner single and Carlson would score on a Langford sacrifice fly to give the Pios a 13-8 cushion going into the ninth inning.
The Pioneers would get two quick outs in the top of the ninth on a 6-4-3 double play ball, but following a walk, St. Norbert would hit their third homerun of the game to cut the lead to 13-10. However, Max Maney would rebound and induce a fly-ball to center field to seal the win.
Freshman Ethan Burns would lead the offensive attack for Carroll finishing 4x5 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in. Senior Mitch Carlson and junior Jacob Horner would each collect three hit in the winning effort. As a team Carroll would pound out 18 hits on the afternoon.
Lefty Andrew Stone would run his season record to 4-1, working the first five innings on the mound for the Pioneers.
Carroll is scheduled to return to action against another former Midwest Conference rival, Ripon College on Wednesday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1pm.
