Carroll University’s Kevin Dineen allowed just one earned run in seven innings of relief and the Pioneers topped Hamilton College 6-3 in a non-conference game at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla., on March 26.
Dineen pitched from the second inning through the eighth for the win and Zach Wiseman closed it out in the ninth for the save. Eight Pioneers had one hit and Phil Giuffre, Alex Hallenbeck and Mitch Marty drove in one run each.
Gabe Klein '13, Zack Becker '16, Sam Fuentes '13 and Steve LaRochelle '14 collected two hits each for the Continentals. Fuentes also drove in a run and Klein scored twice. Tommy Moriarty '14 and Colin Henneberger '14 pitched solid in relief. Moriarty went 3.1 innings and gave up just one earned run, and Henneberger pitched 1.1 hitless innings.
The Continentals (6-7 overall) got one run in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Klein walked and Tim Burke '16 hit a single to the gap in right center that moved him over to third. Klein came across the plate and Burke went to second on a passed ball. Fuentes walked and he and pinch-runner Henneberger stole second and third, respectively. But the Pioneers were able to get out of the inning with a strikeout.
Carroll (4-2) threatened to tie the score in the bottom of the first after it loaded the bases with no outs. But Joe Klobukowski lined into a double play and Mike Williams '16 got the next batter to fly out to center.
The Pioneers broke through with three runs in the bottom of the second. Alex Olsen led off with a single up the middle. Following an out, Eric Keenan hit a single down the left field line and moved up to second on the throw, and Carroll had two runners in scoring position. Marty’s groundout plated Olsen. Jordan Stephans walked and stole second as Keenan scooted home on the throw. Giuffre drove in Keenan with a double to left field.
After a scoreless third inning, Carroll added one run in the fourth and fifth for a 5-1 lead. Hallenbeck started the fourth with an infield single, proceeded to steal second and third base, and scored on an error.
In the fifth, Tyler Schovanec hit an infield single and Klobukowski reached base on an error. Ben Turner moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Olsen hit a grounder to short and Becker tried to get Schovanec out at the plate, but Tyler Reinhold '15 couldn’t handle the throw. Klobukowski also attempted to score on the play, but Reinhold tossed the ball to Moriarty for the tag.
Hamilton got out of another bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning. The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out, but Marty was forced out at the plate on Schovanec’s grounder, and Moriarty got Klobukowski on a strikeout that ended the inning.
Carroll tacked on another run in the seventh inning for a 6-1 advantage. Turner smacked a single to left, stole second and came around to score on consecutive groundouts to second base.
The Continentals cut their deficit in half with two runs in the top of the eighth. Klein and Henneberger each hit singles and ended up at second and third after an errant throw. Groundouts by Fuentes and Nick Taylor '15 scored both runners and it was 6-3.
The Pioneers left two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wiseman entered the game for the final inning and picked up his second save. However, Hamilton made it interesting.
Jensen walked and stole second, and Becker’s single put runners at the corners. Klein came to bat representing the tying run and hit a grounder towards second that appeared to be a base hit. But runner’s interference was called, Becker was forced out on the play and Jensen was sent back to third. Hamilton still had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but pinch hitter Ben Goffin '15 ended the game with a groundout.
The Continentals travel to Wesleyan University for a NESCAC West Division game on Friday, March 29, at 4 p.m.
