ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Carroll baseball suffered a crushing defeat on Friday night, losing to Augustana by a score of 4-3. The loss was Carroll's fifth consecutive conference defeat and eliminates them from CCIW postseason contention. Carroll (15-23, 7-13 CCIW) scored all three runs in the last two innings but came up just short in the ninth. Augustana (22-15, 8-10 CCIW) totaled seven hits in the contest.
Dalen Lamberson led the Pios at the plate with a 3-for-4 showing. Six other Pioneers tallied hits, with Nick Angus claiming the lone extra-base hit for Carroll.
Augustana made the first dent, scoring in both of the first two frames to go up 2-0. Augustana extended the lead in the fifth inning, and again in the sixth. Trailing 4-0, Carroll buckled down defensively as only one hit was allowed in the last three innings, and three base runners were stranded. Carroll began to chip away in the top of the eighth, walking in one run. Carroll retired three out of four batters in the bottom frame with no damage being done. Carroll's last stand started strong. Leadoff hitter Joey Appino was hit by pitch and advanced to third on a Lamberson base hit. Appino scored off a Lane Scott single. Suddenly two runners were on with no outs and the game was 4-2. Casey Mir grounded into a double-play and Brody Ferko reached on an error, scoring Lamberson. With a score of 4-3, one runner on, and two outs, Anthony Tado popped up, squandering any hopes of a Carroll comeback and sending the Pios home with a heartbreaking defeat.
Carroll utilized three pitchers on the night, with starter Erik Jaschinski suffering his fourth loss of the season, going seven innings, striking out two batters, and allowing two runs on three hits. Braden Lewis and Connor Nolen combined to relieve four innings. Lewis gave up one run on three hits and Nolen tallied five strikeouts, allowing only one hit in two closing innings.
Carroll will conclude the 2024 season on Sunday, May 5, as a seven-inning doubleheader was scheduled against nonconference foe MSOE. First pitch for game one from Frame Park will be at 11 a.m.