WHEATON, Ill. - The Carroll University baseball team earned a CCIW sweep on Saturday, defeating Wheaton 23-12 and 5-3 in games two and three of the weekend series. The Pioneers (11-14, 6-4 CCIW) extended their win streak to three games and pushed their head-to-head win streak over Wheaton (7-18, 1-9 CCIW) to four games.
GAME 1
For the second time this season, Carroll scored 20 or more runs in a game. Joey Appino went 4-for-6, with two home runs and six RBI, and Gabe Lee tallied three more RBI with two doubles in the game.
Wheaton, which amassed 20 hits, scored the first run of the game on a RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning. Carroll found themselves at a 3-0 disadvantage in the third inning before the Pioneers finally cracked the scoreboard when Appino singled to bring in Leo Matuga. Carroll went on to put up a crooked number in the third, scoring 3 runs to knot the game at three apiece. Wheaton responded to regain the lead in the fourth.
Carroll's bats caught fire in the fifth inning, taking the lead for good and scoring three or more runs in four of the last five innings.
Carroll utilized six pitchers, including starter Brett Buzzelli, who allowed five earned run on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk through 4 2/3 innings.
Joey Rivera, Roman Maguire, Noah Hoffman, Connor Nolen, and Chayce Schultz also took the mound for the Pioneers, combining to yield seven runs on nine hits the rest of the way.
GAME 2
Dalen Lamberson went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles while Lane Scott sent a 2-run ball over the fence in left center field to lead the Pios in RBI. Carroll generated six extra-base hits in the victory, including one homer and five doubles.
Carroll's first run came on a single by Dalen Lamberson in the first inning. Eddie Synek followed it up with scoring on a wild pitch. Lamberson was rewarded for his efforts by being driven in by Lane Scott on his home run.
The Thunder immediately stifled any momentum by scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth by getting bakc within striking distance with a score of 4-3 midway through the fourth inning.
The score would remain the same for the next four innings, until Casey Mir singled in the eighth, scoring one and giving the Pios the lead for good.
Erik Jaschinski was the starting pitcher and earned the victory, while Roman Maguire and Connor Nolen coming in in relief, with Nolen tallying the save. The pitching staff allowed three runs, eight hits, and collected nine strikeouts in game three.
Carroll is back in action at 1 p.m. on April 14 as they travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College for a battle for I-94.
