CAROL STREAM, Ill. - The fourth-seeded Carroll University baseball team's memorable conference playoff run came to an end as it lost to top-seeded three-time defending league champion and No. 9-ranked North Central College 13-3 in an eight-inning fourth-round CCIW Tournament semifinal showdown at Wheaton College's Lee Pfund Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the Pioneers were officially eliminated from the double-elimination tournament with a 2-2 record and finished 22-22 overall.
The game was limited to eight innings as the 10-run mercy rule was enforced.
North Central, which improved to 3-1 in the tournament and 36-9 overall, advanced to face third-seeded Millikin, 3-0 in the tournament and 30-13, in the championship game.
Trailing 3-0 after three innings, the Cardinals responded with seven runs on five hits in what proved to be a decisive, momentum-shifting bottom of the fourth inning.
The explosive, game-changing rally came with one out and was powered by a two-run single to left field by Brent Swenson, a game-tying RBI single to left field by Luke Lehnen and game-winning grand slam over the right-field fence by Dom Listi.
Carroll, which finished with 11 hits (including three doubles), stranded seven baserunners in the rematch of fierce league rivals.
Benton Holly went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Pioneers' offensive attack. Nick Angus also went 3-for-4 and drove in a run.
Mitchell Massino contributed two hits with TJ Pfaffle, Dylan Callahan and Alec Honickel each adding a hit.
Carroll collected the first two runs of the contest in the top of the second as Holly delivered an RBI double and Angus followed with a one-out run-scoring single.
The Pioneers extended the lead to 3-0 in the third with what became their final run on a two-out RBI single by Holly.
The Pioneers had two golden opportunities to rally down the stretch but couldn't come through with the timely hit to take advantage.
In the sixth with runners on first and third with one out, Carroll fell victim to a pick-off at first base followed by an inning-ending strikeout.
The Pioneers' final attempt to rally came in the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs but abruptly vanished on an inning-ending force out.
Listi went 2-for-5 with six RBIs for North Central, which finished with 11 hits and added six runs in the eighth (including a two-run homer) to bring the game to an end.
Michael Patterson was the winning pitcher, allowing no runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks through 4 2/3 innings.
Scotty Starovich took the loss for Carroll, credited with six runs on five hits with no strikeouts and one walk through 3 1/3 innings. Curtis Sheahan came in relief of Starovich in the fourth, Josh Nitch worked the seventh with Josh Streu and Dawson Kiphart each seeing action in the eighth.
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