WAUKESHA, Wis. – Carroll University baseball earned a split with Illinois Wesleyan on Friday afternoon at Frame Park, rallying for a 10–8 victory in Game One before falling 8–3 in the nightcap of the CCIW doubleheader.
Game One – Carroll 10, Illinois Wesleyan 8
Carroll opened the day with a resilient comeback win, using a pivotal six-run fifth inning to overcome an early deficit and take the series opener.
The Pioneers struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when Jimmy Williams blasted a two-run home run to left field, giving Carroll a 2–0 advantage. Illinois Wesleyan responded with three runs in the second inning and added three more over the next three frames to build a 6–2 lead heading into the fifth.
Carroll flipped the game in the bottom of the fifth, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs on six hits. Ross Olsen jump-started the rally with an RBI single, followed by a two-run double from Brody Ferko. Joey Appino delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Pioneers in front, and Evan Becker capped the inning with an RBI fielder's choice as Carroll surged ahead, 8–6.
Illinois Wesleyan tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, but Carroll answered immediately. Justin Cusimano drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, and Appino followed with another run-scoring hit to give the Pioneers a 10–8 lead.
Chayce Schultz earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to close out the game. Appino finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Ferko and Williams each drove in two runs.
Game Two – Illinois Wesleyan 8, Carroll 3
In the second game of the doubleheader, Carroll took an early lead but was unable to hold off a late Illinois Wesleyan surge.
After Illinois Wesleyan scored once in the second inning, the Pioneers responded in the fourth. Jimmy Williams brought home a run after reaching on an error, and Leo Matuga followed with a two-run home run to left field to give Carroll a 3–1 advantage.
Illinois Wesleyan began to chip away in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to take the lead before breaking the game open with a four-run eighth. Carroll was unable to generate a response down the stretch, as the Titans secured the 8–3 win.
Matuga paced Carroll offensively with his two-run homer, while Joey Appino and Dalen Lamberson each recorded multiple hits in the nightcap.
The Pioneers will be back in action tomorrow at Frame Park as they finish up the series with Illinois Wesleyan at 1pm.
