Box Score NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Carroll University (10-10, 0-8 CCIW) fell short in their comeback attempt falling to CCIW leader North Central (12-6, 8-0 CCIW) by the final score of 6-5.
North Central looked to pick up right where it left off on Saturday as they would plate a pair of runs in the top of the opening inning to give the Cardinals the 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers would get on the board in the bottom of the second. Hunter Frey and Zach Meyer would both reach to start the inning and Sam Harmeyer would move them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Ethan Burns would then single sharply up the middle to score both runs to even the score at two. With two-outs in the inning Alex Kermendy would double to deep right-center to score Burns and put the Pios in front 3-2.
The 2017 D3 World Series semi-finalists would answer with another pair of runs in the top of the third to retake the lead at 4-3. Single tallies for North Central in the fourth and sixth innings would push their advantage to 6-3.
Matt Putman and Jacob Langford would both single to start the bottom of the seventh inning and with one out a fielding error would load the bases for Carroll. Meyer would then bring home Putman on a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the lead to 6-4.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth inning would see Kermendy and Putman single to start the rally and Langford follow with single up the middle to score Kermendy and bring the Pios back to within a run at 6-5 going to the ninth inning.
With one out in the ninth inning, Meyer would reach and advance to second on a throwing error, putting the tying run in scoring position with one out. A ground ball out would advance Meyer to third base with two outs, but a ground ball to shortstop and throw to first would beat the Carroll runner by a half step to seal the 6-5 win for North Central.
Carroll University will return to CCIW action seeking their first conference win of 2018 on Tuesday as they travel to Elmhurst College for a double-header starting at 3pm.
