SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Chicago State baseball team kicked off its weeklong spring break trip to California Tuesday night by falling to host San Jose State by a score of 9-2 at Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. The Spartans improved their record to 12-3, while the Cougars fell to 1-16 on the season.
In the second inning, sophomore Danny Steinstra drove home sophomore Jason Martin, who led off with a single, from second base after drilling a single to left center to give SJSU a 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans hiked their lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Michael Reiling reached base on a single, reached second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third following a CSU throwing error before scoring on a double by Tyler Heil to right field. Anthony Aguilera doubled home Jacob Bruns from first in the fourth inning as SJSU increased its mark to 3-0.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the fifth for the home team, highlighted by Steinstra's RBI double to right center that gave the Spartans a 5-0 advantage. Reiling hit an RBI double to left field that plated Aguilera following a leadoff single to make the score 6-0 after the sixth inning.
CSU bounced back to score a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to slice its deficit to 6-2. Sophomore Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and redshirt freshman Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) walked before junior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. On the next play, senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) connected on a double to left center, scoring both Carpens from second and third.
In the bottom half of the eighth, the Spartans drew a pair of RBI walks and a hit by pitch en route to scoring three runs to provide the final margin.
Five SJSU players recorded two hits in the game, led by Steinstra's 2-for-3 day with two runs batted in. Senior Ryan Shopshire (1-1) captured the win for the Spartans after allowing only four hits in addition to nine strikeouts and two walks in seven innings of work.
Chicago State was led by Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark), who went 2-for-4 at the plate. Taking the loss on the mound was freshman James Tucker (Gary, IN/Calumet) (Gary, Ind.), who dropped to 0-6 on the year, following a six-inning performance in which he gave up six runs on 10 hits while walking five and striking out one batter.
The Cougars and the Spartans will battle in a doubleheader today at Municipal Stadium with a start time of 3 p.m., Pacific Time.
~CSU~
