PLYMOUTH, Wis. - Carroll baseball had a white-hot night at the plate on Thursday afternoon, sweeping a nonconference doubleheader against Lakeland University by scores of 16-15 and 17-2 (seven innings). The combined 33 runs scored is the most Carroll has had in a doubleheader since 2017.
Dalen Lamberson went a combined 4-for-7 with five RBI in the two games. Joey Appino had three stolen bases, increasing his season total to 24, a school record for stolen bases in a season.
GAME 1
Bennet Becker went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the game and Austin Palmer went 3-for-6 with a homer in the fifth inning, a solo shot. Six other Pios tallied at least one hit. As a team, Carroll collected 15 hits.
Carroll came out of the gates white-hot in game one, putting crooked numbers up in each of the first three innings. Carroll held a 10-1 advantage after the third inning, it wouldn't be until the fourth inning that Lakeland was able to cut into the lead, as the Pios held a 16-6 advantage. Carroll cooled off, scoring zero runs after the sixth. The Muskies began to catch fire in the sixth, slowly inching towards the Pioneer lead and making the game anything but comfortable. Lakeland went on to score seven unanswered runs, and nine of the last 11 to pull within one run, but Carroll never forfeited the lead. Connor Nolen came in to close out the game, allowing no runs and striking out two batters to silence the hopes of a miracle comeback.
Carroll utilized seven pitchers in the contest, including starter Daniel Kalinowski, Tanner LaMack, Brady LaMack, Carson Gratz, Joey Rivera, Roman Maguire, and Nolen. As a unit, the seven allowed 20 hits, gave up 11 earned runs, and tallied seven strikeouts. Kalinowski picked up the win and Nolen picked up his sixth save of the season.
GAME 2
Five Carroll players had multi-hit games in game 2, led by Appino who contributed two doubles and two RBI, while scoring four runs. Lane Scott hit a two-run shot in the third inning, his third of the season
Carroll continued the hitting barage from game one, this time pulling away and maintaining distance from the Muskies. The game was 3-1 after three complete innings, and looked to be another nailbiter as the only separator was the two-run blast from Scott. Carroll then scored 14 unanswered runs, shutting down the Muskies until the bottom of the seventh inning. The best offensive inning of the game for Carroll came in the sixth, five of which were scored with two outs.
Carroll used just two arms in the dominant victory. Jorge Rodriguez got the start on the bump, going six complete innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and walking three batters. Owen Ripley closed the game allowing one run on one hit in the seventh inning.
Carroll looks to continue riding their three game win streak on Saturday April 27, as they travel to CCIW-leader North Park for the first two games of a three-game weekend series against the Vikings. Game one begins at 1 p.m. with game 2 to follow and game 3 will be at Frame Park at 1 p.m. on Sunday the 28th.
