KENOSHA, Wis. - Nick Angus, a senior pinch-hitter from Darien, Ill., scored what proved to be the winning run as the result of a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as the Carroll University baseball team defeated fierce, intra-state rival Carthage College 5-4 in a cold, windy College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Augie Schmidt Field on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a critical, late-season conference road victory for Carroll, which snapped a six-game losing streak to improve to 8-8 in the highly contested league standings and 16-18 overall.
Augustana is in sole possession of first place (13-2), North Central is second (10-5), Millikin and North Park are tied for third (9-6), Carroll is fourth (8-8), Illinois Wesleyan is fifth (7-8) and Wheaton is sixth (6-9) in the race for the top six spots in the upcoming CCIW Tournament.
The Pioneers, who took a big step toward securing a berth in the prestigious league tournament for the third straight year, are scheduled to complete regular conference play with a home-field doubleheader against league-leading No. 25-ranked Augustana (May 6).
Angus singled to begin the inning, advanced to second on a walk and took third as the result of a hit batsman.
Joey Appino, Trevor Benz, Justin Baker, Ben Hurt Haller, Benton Holly and Thomas Ward each contributed one hit to propel a seven-hit offensive attack for Carroll, which collected three extra-base hits.
The Pioneers scored three runs on three hits in the top of the second inning, ignited on an RBI triple to right-center field by Ward. Ward eventually scored on a wild pitch and Appino followed with a run-scoring single to right field to round out the momentum-building spree.
Carthage, which collected 10 hits but stranded 10 baserunners, scored two runs in both the bottom of the second and third to claim a 4-3 lead.
Benz tied the game with a solo home run in the fifth (his third of the season) for Carroll, setting the stage for the decisive ninth.
The Pioneers utilized four pitchers in the battle including starter Nolan Fehrman, Erik Jaschinski, Connor Kelly and Connor Nolen.
Kelly, a senior right-hander from Racine, Wis., earned a victory by pitching a scoreless 1 2/3 innings with one strikeout and one walk.
He threw 25 pitches in facing nine batters, forcing three groundouts and one flyout in the process.
Nolen, a junior right-hander from Poplar Grove, Ill., pitched an unblemished ninth to pickup his team-best sixth save of the season (10th of his career).
The program's all-time career leader in saves finished with 12 pitches, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts and no walks in facing four batters.
With the potential winning run at the plate with a runner at third and no outs, Nolen showcased his mental toughness and poise in the pressure-packed situation by responding with three consecutive strikeouts to end the game.