Clermont, Fla. – The Carroll University Pioneers chipped away at an early Westminister lead before exploding for six runs in the final two innings to take a 9-6 win away from the Titans. Amanda Osterhus won her second game of the day and sixth of the season coming in relief for the final two and two third innings. Lauren Harshbarger launched three hits and earned three RBIs in the game, including the go-ahead single in the fifth inning.
 
The Pioneers (9-1, 0-0 CCIW) are off to their best start in the past twenty years. Both teams recorded four errors each in the affair, on top of 23 total hits between the two teams. Allyssa Demma reached base on two of the Titan's four errors, and helped score two runs. Kaylee Learman and Claudia Spencer scored a combined four runs for the team, including late inning runs from Spencer.
 
Breanna Roberts started the contest fresh off a save from the game prior. Roberts faced resilient batters, and only lasted an inning after surrendering three runs from seven batters.
 
Learman wore a pitch and advanced to first to start the second inning. A Spencer double put both of them in scoring position. Emily Green advanced on a fielder's choice when Learman beat the tag at home.
 
Grace Bradley came in relief for Roberts and surrendered two more runs early, but held on for a few innings until Westminster had scored six runs. Only two of Bradley's runs were earned due to errors in the field.
 
Learman collected another RBI on the year after grounding out and scoring Harshbarger in the top of the third inning, to cut the lead to three runs. Harshbarger chipped away at the lead again scoring Green and advancing Emily Goodger who pinch hit for Abby Wimmer.
 
After the Titan lead was brought to six runs, the Pios went into the top of the fifth down three. Madison Wagner started off the inning with a single, and Learman launched a double that bounced off the wall. Spencer added to her season RBI total and scored Lyndsey Rost from third. A Mathena Higgins single loaded the bases for Demma, and scored Learman. Harshbarger's go-ahead single to right field on a 0-1 count gave her two more RBIs, and the Pioneers the lead.
 
Osterhus entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with one out with runners on first and second. Osterhus retired eight straight batters to lock in the Pioneer win. Wagner and Spencer contributed two more runs thanks to a Higgins sac-fly and another Demma reach from an error.
 
The Pioneers get a break from the Florida games for a day before returning to the diamond on Wednesday to finish with six more games before coming back home. Stay up to date on Carroll softball this season by going online to www.gopios.com, or by following the Pioneers on Facebook (Carroll University Athletics), Twitter (@pio_athletics), and Instagram (@pio_athletics).