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CHICAGO – Chicago State baseball earned the program's first ever win at new Cougar Stadium on Wednesday (March 19) as the Cougars took down city-rival UIC 14-12.
"It was a good win for the program," Chicago State head coach
Steve Joslyn said. "UIC is a good team. They've played a quality schedule including a trip to Vanderbilt, so today was a good win for us."
Junior
Jordan Stroschein (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) recorded six RBI, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. He helped the Cougars hold a comfortable lead for the majority of the contest before UIC scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Catcher Tyler Detmer had three runs scored and three RBI for the Flames, including a solo home run to left field in the first inning. It was UIC's only lead of the game after the Cougars scored two in the bottom half of the inning.
The Cougars opened up the game with a five spot in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth. Juniors
Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, ONT/Notre Dame) and
Jordan Stroschein (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) each had two-RBI hits in the fourth inning. Chicago State opened the fifth with five straight hits, including three consecutive doubles. Freshman
Sanford Hunt (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood), sophomore
Julian Russell (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) and junior
Evan Davis (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) each knocked in a run in the frame.
Davis finished with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks in the game. Junior
Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) walked twice, scored twice and added two hits. Junior
Robert Swenson (Mason City, Iowa/Mason City) and Russell each recorded three hits.
"Even with the cold, for the most part early on we stayed with our opposite field approach and hit the ball hard," Joslyn said. "Later on we got a little pull happy but Jordan was still able to get a good full cut in for the home run."
Strochein's home run was the first CSU home run at Cougar Stadium. Detmer's home run for UIC in the first will stand as the first ever home run at the new field.
Junior
Nick Kostalek (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) started for the Cougars and went 4.2 innings to pick up the win. He allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts. He is now 2-0 on the year. Junior
Jerry Silva (Chicago, Ill./Holy Trinity) pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings in relief. UIC starter Ryan Hinchley allowed three runs in 3.0 innings to take the loss in his first decision of the season.
UIC falls to 4-11. Chicago State improves to 7-8. Tuesday's win was the first over UIC for Chicago State since 2002.
"Credit UIC for their late rally," Joslyn said. "But that's just college baseball. Our guys need to know that. But in the end we did what we needed to do to get the win."
The Cougars take on Holy Cross (Ind.) on Thursday at Cougar Stadium. First pitch will be 5 p.m., an hour earlier than initially announced at the start of the season.
