CAROL STREAM, Ill. – Edgewood College put together a nice two-out rally in the ninth against Carroll University (10-3) Friday afternoon at Pfund Stadium, but its effort proved to be too little too late as the Eagles fell 7-3 to the Pioneers. The Eagles scored all three of its runs with two outs in the ninth but left 14 runners on base as they dropped to 4-7 on the year.
The Pioneers got to Edgewood College starting pitcher Andy Swanson right away in the first but Swanson and the defense behind him settled into a groove shortly after. Carroll struck first with an unearned run off of Edgewood College's lone error of the game but wouldn't find any offense again until the seventh.
The Eagles, meanwhile, didn't have any trouble finding baserunners but couldn't push any runs across. They loaded the bases in the second and sixth innings but came up empty-handed both times. The Eagles threatened in the eighth as well with two runners on after a Garrett Bogucki walk and a Jeff Tucker single up the middle but Carroll's pitching proved too much again.
After an insurance run for the Pioneers in the bottom of the eighth, the Eagles finally strung together some run-producing hits to get on board in their final trip to the plate. Shortstop Jonathan Roehler, who was one of three Eagles with multiple hits on the day, began with a single up the middle while Andrew Lauritzen followed suit with a base knock through the left side. Nick Lehner then knocked in Roehler with a single to right field.
After a fielding error, Tim Nunn then came through with a two-RBI single to left to make it a ballgame. A walk loaded the bases but Carroll relief pitcher Matt Risch got out of the jam with a strikeout.
Roehler wound up 2-for-5 with a run scored while Andrew Lauritzen was 2-for-4 with a run as well. Bogucki was the other Eagles player with multiple hits after a pair of singles.
Swanson struck out five and allowed just one run (unearned) over four innings. Nate Averill relieved Swanson and allowed five runs over 2.1 innings while Ryan Howell allowed one run in 1.2 innings of work.
Aaron Roth got the win for Carroll after allowing no runs and five hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five but walked six. Joe Huss did the most damage at the plate for the Pioneers with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored during a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
The Eagles will remain at Pfund Stadium tomorrow for a pair of games. They take on Concordia College (Moorhead) at 11 am before squaring off against Wheaton College (Ill.) at 2 pm. Live stats are available for the first game while an audio broadcast will be provided for the game against Wheaton.
