BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Carroll baseball team lost their CCIW opener on Friday afternoon, dropping game one of three to Illinois Wesleyan 12-2. Carroll (5-11, 0-1) only tallied two hits against the formidable Titan pitching staff.  

Joey Appino and Mason Hege went 1-for-3 with one single with a single to lead the Pios at the plate. Lane Scott also tallied the lone RBI on the day, sending Appino in on a sac fly in the sixth inning.  

Carroll was held scoreless through the first five innings of play. Illinois Wesleyan broke the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs 'on five hits to gain a 7-0 advantage over the Pioneers. Carroll cut into the lead in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring one run in each frame and closing the gap to 8-2. Carroll's comeback hopes were halted as the Titans scored four unanswered runs to close the game out in the eighth inning. 

  
The Pioneers utilized five pitchers including starter Brett Buzzeli, Daniel Kalinowski, Chayce Schultz, Carson Gratz, and Brady LaMack. The group collected six strikeouts, giving up 11 earned runs on 17 hits. Buzzelli suffered his first loss of the season, pitching three innings, allowing nine hits and allowing seven earned runs.  

Carroll returns to action tomorrow for games and three two of the CCIW opening series against Illinois Wesleyan. Game one of the doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. with game two to follow.