KENOSHA, Wis. - For the second time in as many games, Carroll was defeated by in-state rival Carthage in the Firebirds' final at-bats, falling to Carthage by a score of 7-6 on Sunday afternoon. Carroll (12-12, 3-5 CCIW) had 11 hits and left seven runners on base while Carthage (16-7, 4-2 CCIW) had 12 hits and left eight stranded. 

Three Pioneers had multi-hit days, including Eddie Synek, Dalen Lamberson, and Gabe Lee. Joey Appino, Lane Scott, Jimmy Williams, Nathan Crick, and Thomas Ward all reached base safely via a hit, with Ward sending his sixth homer of the season over the left field wall in the second inning. 

Carroll, hungry for revenge, jumped on Carthage early, gaining a 5-0 lead after two and a half innings. The Firebirds found their footing in a big way in the third inning, scoring four runs on six hits to pull within one of the Pioneers. Carroll gained an insurance run in the next frame when Scott singled to right field, sending in Appino. Carthage scored one more in the fifth and the two teams went quiet for a couple of trips to the plate, as the score sat 6-5 in Carroll's favor.  

In the eighth inning, with two outs, Carthage plated two with a single up the middle, gaining their first advantage of the contest. In the final desperation effort, Synek reached base with one out and would later steal second, but that would be as close as the Pios could get as Carthage swept the weekend series with another last-inning victory. 

Five Pioneers took the mound in the defeat, including Braden Lewis, who earned the start and struck out three batters while allowing five earned runs in five complete innings. Ben Olsen, Joey Rivera, Tyler Burns, and Chayce Schultz all earned relief action, with Tyler Burns striking out two batters and inheriting the defeat. 

Carroll will make another quick turnaround with a CCIW home game against North Park University on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch from Frame Park will be at 3 p.m..