Box Score Port Charlotte - Chicago State outlasted Villanova 3-2 in 11 innings. In a game that was halted by two rain delays totaling 77 minutes due to intermittent rain, CSU was able to beat the Wildcats for the first time in school history. This also marks the first win versus a Big East foe since defeating the University of Cincinnati in 2008.
Three singles in the bottom of the first help the Wildcats jump out to an early 1-0 lead. That would be the only run starter
Dillion Engle (Milwaukee, WI/Nathan Hale) would give up. Engle went six innings scattering 1 run on seven hits while striking out five.
The Cougars were held scoreless until the top of the seventh, when
Chris Hipchen (Geneva, IL) hit a one out double to the wall in left center field. Later that inning, with two outs and two strikes,
Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) knocked home Hipchen with single through the middle.
CSU wouldn't score again until the top of the 10th. With one out, Patterson drove a first pitch fastball to the wall in right beat the throw to third for his first triple of the year.
Julian Russell (Chicago, IL/Gordon Tech) followed up with sacrifice fly to center to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.Â
Villanova answered in the bottom half of the 10th with a lead off hit by pitch followed up with a run scoring double off of reliever
Nick Kostalek (Huntley, IL/Huntley), who came in relief of Engle in the seventh. Kostalek pitched 3.1 innings, giving up a run and striking out one. A strong relay throw from Hipchen in right to second basemen
Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, ONT/Notre Dame) to third basemen
Andy Gertonson (Crystal Lake IL/Central) cut down the Wildcat, Max Beerman, trying to stretch the double into a triple. Later in the same inning, with a runner on second and two outs for the Wildcats, Adam Gross singled up the middle. With the go ahead run rounding third,
Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) pick up the rain-soaked ball in center and fired a strike to catcher Bob Swenson to gun down the would be winning run.
Chase Matheson (McHenry, IL/McHenry) reached on a fielder's choice in the 11th inning after a leadoff single by Gertonson.Pinch hitter
Evan Davis (Sterling, IL/Sterling) struck out for the second out of the inning, but Matheson was running on a full count and was safe at second. After an intentional walk, Matheson was in motion while Swenson was batting and stole third on the front half of what became the eventual game-winning play. Villanova catcher Emmanuel Morris over threw the third basemen attempting to throw out Matheson which allowed Matheson to score.
Zach Thomas (Joliet, IL/Joliet West ) got the win for the Cougars pitching the last 1.2 innings and allowing only one hit.
The Cougars finish up the weekend in Florida with game vs. Northeastern in Port Charlotte at 2pm on Sunday.
