ROCHESTER, Minn. - Freshman pinch runner Maria Mundt (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored what proved to be the winning run as the result of an error with one out in the top of the eighth inning as the Carroll University softball team upset No. 10-ranked Luther College 5-4 to cap the first game of the season-opening Rochester Dome Tournament at the RCTC Dome on Saturday afternoon.
Carroll scored the first run of the contest in the top of the second on an RBI single to right field by sophomore shortstop Jordan Wermund (Stevensville, Mich.).
The Pioneers followed with three runs on three hits and took advantage of an error in the third to extend the lead to 4-0.
Senior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) delivered an RBI double and junior left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.) added a clutch, two-run single during the key inning.
Luther answered with three runs on one hit to trim the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth and later tied the game on a one-out RBI ground-rule double by junior designated hitter Abby Gehringer in the seventh, setting the stage for the dramatic eighth inning.
Wermund, Rodriguez, Jrolf and freshman center fielder Sierra Grubor (Milwaukee, Wis.) each went 2-for-4 to power a nine-hit attack for the Pioneers.
Junior right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) was the winning pitcher for Carroll, allowing two earned runs on five hits with 13 strikeouts and six walks through seven complete innings. Junior right-hander Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.) pitched the final inning to earn a save, working through the pressure-packed situation by forcing a game-ending fly out.