WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll baseball continued CCIW play with a home doubleheader against Augustana College (IL) to close the weekend series, splitting with the Vikings by scores of 6-5 in 10 innings and and a 12-6 defeat. In the two games combined, Carroll (15-17, 6-9 CCIW) had 19 hits, with two going for extra bases in game one. Augustana (17-14, 6-7 CCIW) 19 hits on the day with four nabbing extra bases.
GAME 1 (6-5 Carroll, 10 innings)
Two Pioneer hitters,Lane Scott and Eddie Synek, had three-hit days, with Scott doubling and hitting the walk-off RBI single. Joey Appino, Dalen Lamberson, and Brody Ferko completed the offensive hitting attack in game one with two base knocks apiece.
Carroll got off to a hot start, scoring two runs in the first inning with Synek and Ferko both collecting RBIs. The Vikings controlled the next several innings and built a lead by plating the next five runs over three innings. The Pios regained traction in the bottom of the sixth, when an Appino single scored two and brought Carroll within one run. The defense held for two innings and in the bottom of the eighth, the score was knotted back up at 5-5 thanks to a double off the bat of Scott. The Vikings threatened in the ninth but two runners were stranded as Connor Nolen came in to shut down the offense. The Pioneers also had a chance to win in walk-off fashion in regulation, but left a runner on as the two teams headed to extra innings.
Nolen made quick work of the Vikings in the 10th, as he retired the side in order. In the bottom half of the inning, Gabe Lee reached first base to add a runner right away. Anthony Tado followed that up by also finding a way on, putting runners on first and second with no outs. After Appino sacrifice bunted to advance the runners, Lamberson was intentionally walked, sending Lane Scott to the plate. Scott hit a grounder to the second basemen, which he was able to leg out and beat the double play, giving the Pios a thrilling walk-off victory.
Carroll utilized three arms in the first game, including starter Dylan Eckrote who threw four complete innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and striking out two batters. Jack Piper and Nolen combined to close the game, with both tallying two strikeouts with Nolen earning the late-inning.
GAME 2 (12-6 Augustana)
Lamberson was the lone Pioneer to have consecutive multi-hit games, going 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Pios in game two. Five other Pioneers reached base safely via singles, including Appino, Synek, Ferko, Tado, and Nathan Crick.
Game two started opposite the first, as Augie built a 5-0 lead through their first three trips to the plate. Carroll drew within two after a Tado sac fly and Appino sent a two-run shot to left center field, his fourth of the season. After the Vikings added an insurance run in the sixth, Carroll knotted the game in the seventh, scoring three runs on three hits. That would be all the closer Carroll would get, as Augustana responded with six runs over the final two innings to take the 12-6 victory.
Carroll used a pitch-by-committee approach in the game two defeat, with Braden Lewis earning the start and striking out two batters in three innings. Bryten Staab, Roman Maguire, Tyler Burns, Conor Dunlavy, Chayce Schultz, Nolen, Ben Olsen, and Joey Rivera all took the mound to close the game, combining to strikeout eight batters and Nolen seceded the game two defeat.
Carroll returns to action on Tuesday, April 22, as they travel to North Park University lookign to avenge a home loss suffered to the Vikings on April 8. That game will begin at 4pm in Chicago, IL.
