WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Carroll's softball team continued their winning ways Wednesday with a pair of wins to improve their early-season record to 6-2. That marks their best start to a season since 2020, which saw the Pios begin the year 13-1, before seeing the remainder of that season canceled due to COVID-19. The Pioneers defeated SUNY Polytechnic Institute 3-2 in Wednesday's first game, before completing the sweep with a 6-5 win against Penn State-Brandywine.

GAME ONE vs. SUNY-Poly
The Pios' first game of the day was the true definition of a pitcher's duel, as the two teams combined to muster five hits in the contest. that included a complete game one-hit gem by freshman Makayla Wall (3-1), who finished with a career-high nine strikeouts.

Despite that pitching performance, SUNY Poly grabbed the game's first lead in the top of the fourth due to some timely hitting. Their first and only hit of the day came on an RBI triple after a lead-off walk, which was followed by a sacrifice fly to put Carroll in a 2-0 hole.

Carroll waited until the bottom of the fifth to record their first hit. They would take advantage of that opportunity with an RBI single by Kali Stanchina to cut SUNY Poly's lead in half. The Pios then waited until the bottom of the seventh to tie the score when Gianna Buske scored on a fielding error. That set the stage for a walk-off win, as Val Osthoff drew a two-out bases loaded walk to end the game.

Besides Stanchina's hit, MK Dusza was the only other Pio to record a hit in the game, going 2-for-4 at the plate.

GAME TWO vs. Penn State-Brandywine
The Pioneers competed the game day sweep with a 6-5 win in the nightcap against Penn State-Brandywine, which saw both teams record 13 hits.

Penn State-Brandywine struck first with an RBI double to center in the bottom of the first. That lead wouldn't last long however, as Carroll scored four runs in the following inning. Buske drove in the Pios' first two runs with a single down the left field line, which was followed by RBI singles from Abby Curtis and Stanchina.

Brandywine would get that lead back in the fifth, scoring four runs of their own, with the final blow coming on an RBI double to right center to give them a 5-4 advantage. Carroll wasn't done fighting though, tying the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Madison Hoagland. Osthoff would then step to the plate and record a sacrifice fly to provide the game's winning run for the second time in as many games.

Buske led all players with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Curtis added three hits, while Stanchina went 2-for-2 at the dish. Riley Pavelka (3-1) continued her strong start to the season, earning the win behind a 10-strikeout performance in the circle.

The Pioneers will continue their Spring Break trip Thursday with games against Western New England and Marywood at 9 and 11:15 a.m., respectively. Both games will be played at DiamondPlex Field B in Winter Haven, Fla.