Patterson Extinguishes Late UIC Rally To Help CSU Defeat Flames 8-7

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CHICAGO – Junior Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) recorded three runs, two hits and the save in Chicago State's 8-7 victory over UIC in a non-conference baseball tilt at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium on Wednesday (April 9) evening.

The Cougars got the offense started early with two runs in the first inning. Patterson led the game off with a walk and scored on sophomore Julian Russell (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech)'s double down the left line. Junior Chase Matheson (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) followed with a RBI single to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead three batters into the game.

After UIC responded with a run in their half of the first, CSU scored two more runs in the second inning. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Patterson stole second and came around to score on a Russell single. Two batters later after the Flames made a pitching change, junior Jordan Stroschein (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) ripped a RBI ground-rule double to left center field putting the Cougars on top 4-1.

Chicago State added two more runs in the fourth inning with a RBI double from Matheson followed by a RBI triple from Stroschein. Starting pitcher junior Nick Kostalek (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) went four innings, allowing just three hits, striking out three and ended the night retiring nine of the last 11 UIC hitters.

With the score 7-3, the Horizon League foe tied the game with a four-run sixth inning. The Flames loaded the bases with one out and a run already across for Jacob McNamara. McNamara singled to right to score a run, but a fielding error cleared the bases, tying the game at 7-7.

With two out in the eighth inning, a misplayed ball in right field turned into a double for Russell. Matheson picked up his fourth RBI of the night with a single up the middle to regain the lead for the Cougars.

UIC put runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth inning, but junior Aveeno Nasiloski (Hammond, Ind./Gavit) worked out both jams. In the ninth, Alex Lee led off with a double to right. The next batter Jeff Boehm was hit-by-pitch which prompted a pitching change. Patterson came into pitch and threw out Lee at third base on an attempted sacrifice bunt. After a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, Patterson got a strike out and ground out to end the game.

"It was an extremely gutty effort on our part," said head coach Steve Joslyn talking about the ninth inning. "Aveeno (Nasiloski) did a good job, Jared (Patterson) did a great job, throwing the runner out at third and making some big pitches. All of our guys were confident and made plays when we needed to."

The Cougars finished with 16 hits, two shy of their season-high vs. Omaha (Feb. 28). Matheson went 3-for-3 with a team-high four RBI. Russell had three hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Patterson scored three runs and recorded his first save of the season while Nasiloski (1-1) picked up his first win of the year. McNamara had two hits and a RBI while Mitchell Schulewitz (2-4) took the loss for UIC.

The Cougars improve their record to 10-18 on the season, equaling last year's win total. UIC falls to 12-14. The win marks the first time since 1988 that Chicago State has defeated UIC twice in one season. CSU returns to Western Athletic Conference play this weekend (April 11-13) at Bakersfield.