WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll baseball picked up another CCIW victory on Friday evening, defeating Wheaton 4-2 in a tightly contested battle. It was a well-pitched, clean game on both sides as only 13 total hits were made in the game and neither team committed an error.
Five Pios collected hits on the day, with Joey Appino, Dalen Lamberson, Anthony Tado, and Thomas Ward tallying singles, and Eddie Synek hitting the lone extra-base hit on the day, a double in the eighth.
It looked like it was going to be a marathon through the first few innings, as Carroll pushed two runs across, and Wheaton scored one in both the second and third innings, making it a 2-2 ballgame after three complete, with four of the six total runs and five of the 13 total hits already being made. Noah Meyer came in for relief and both defenses settled in from there as donuts were put on the scoreboard for the next several innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Carroll got back on the board.
Ward kicked off the bottom of the eighth with a pinch-hit single to right-center field, Leo Matuga advanced the runner on a sacrifice bunt, and Appino took a pitch to the shoulder, giving the Pios a very advantageous position with two on and only one out. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and as he has all season, Eddie Synek came in clutch. Synek sent a pitch down the left field line into the corner, notching a double, and knocking in two runs to put the Pioneers up 4-2. Connor Nolen came in to close out the game. Wheaton got one runner on, but Nolen retired the next three batters with two strikeouts, sealing the victory.
Carroll utilized three pitchers in the loss, including starter Dylan Eckrote, Noah Meyer, and Connor Nolen. The pitching staff gave up two earned runs on eight hits. The Pioneers also collected 13 strikeouts while only walking three batters. Meyer gave five strong innings in relief, giving up five hits and notching five strikeouts, earning the victory. Nolen was awarded the save, his third of the season.
Carroll returns to action for games two and three of the series, traveling to Wheaton. Game two starts at noon from Pfund Park with the closing game to follow.
