Kaylee Learman became Carroll University softball's all-time leader in runs batted in with a two-run home run in game one, leading to the Pioneers sweeping the Wheaton Thunder on Thursday, to remain in second place in the CCIW.
GAME 1 | Carroll (WI) 13, Wheaton (IL) 11
WHEATON, Ill. --The Carroll Pioneers needed 11 innings to finish the job, but earned the 13-11 extra-innings victory over the Wheaton (IL) Thunder Thursday.
Junior Grace Bradley (5-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Carroll (15-8, 7-2). The right-hander went 1.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit.
Senior Kaylee Learman led the way offensively for the Pioneers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run, three walks and two RBI. Senior Madison Wagner put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI. Sophomore Madison Palasz also contributed, going 3-for-6 for Carroll with a double and four RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Carroll's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Wagner.
The Thunder then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 4-2 until the Pioneers expanded their advantage in the fourth. Carroll scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Learman, which brought the Pioneers lead to 7-2.
Wheaton clawed back to tie the ballgame at seven before Carroll reclaimed an 11-7 advantage in the sixth inning. The Pioneers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Wagner.
The Thunder then tied the ballgame at 11 before Carroll came back to reclaim their advantage in the eleventh inning. The Pioneers drove home two runs when a single from Palasz scored senior Sierra Grubor and Learman, bringing the score to 13-11 in favor of Carroll. The score remained 13-11 for the rest of the game, as the Pioneers held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Carroll got three-hit games from both Grubor and Palasz.
» The Pioneers power output was led by Wagner, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Palasz and Wagner drove in four runs for Carroll.
» Carroll's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Carroll took a 4-2 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Pioneers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Carroll went 8-for-13 (.615) with runners in scoring position.
» Carroll pitchers faced 55 Wheaton hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Pioneers drew five walks from Wheaton pitching.
» Learman led the Pioneers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Wheaton was led offensively by junior E. Gist, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
» Gist led the Thunder pitching staff, throwing 11 innings of 13-run ball.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
GAME 2 | Carroll (WI) 4, Wheaton (IL) 1
WHEATON, Ill. --The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 4-1 win over the Thunder on Thursday.
Freshman Riley Pavelka (4-1) started in the circle and picked up the win for Carroll (16-8, 8-2). The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out five.
At the plate, the Pioneers were paced by senior Kaylee Learman, who went 1-for-1 on the day with a double, two walks and an RBI. Senior Madison Wagner put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Sophomore Madison Palasz also contributed for Carroll, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Carroll plated two runs off of Wheaton pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Learman.
The Pioneers then held the Thunder scoreless before expanding their lead in the third inning. Junior Mathena Higgins came across to score the lone run of the inning for Carroll, which brought the Pioneers lead to 3-0.
Wheaton narrowed Carroll's lead to 3-1 before the Pioneers stretched the advantage to 4-1 in the fifth inning. The Pioneers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Wagner. The score remained 4-1 for the rest of the game, as Carroll held on for the win as the game was called early due to darkness.
GAME NOTES
» Pavelka struck out five Thunder hitters.
» Carroll's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed two runs across.
» Carroll grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Carroll went 3-for-5 (.600) with runners in scoring position.
» Carroll pitchers limited Wheaton to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» Carroll pitchers faced 24 Wheaton hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out five.
» Learman led the Pioneers at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI.
» Wheaton was led offensively by freshman O Nahorniak, who went 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Sophomore A Antonello led the Thunder pitching staff, throwing five innings of four-run ball.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
NEXT GAME
Carroll will battle with the reigning CCIW Champions in Millikin University on Saturday afternoon in Decatur, Illinois.
