BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Chicago State baseball team opened a six-game slate this week with a rain-soaked 11-4 loss to host Indiana this afternoon at Sembower Field. IU improved its record to 9-15 on the year, while the Cougars dropped the season ledger to 2-23.
The Hoosiers opened the scoring in the first inning by scoring four runs off CSU freshman starter James Tucker (Gary, IN/Calumet) (Gary, Ind.). IU's rally started when junior Josh Phegley lined an RBI double off the left field fence that scored sophomore Jerrud Sabourin, who blasted a triple on the previous play, for a 1-0 lead. Phegley scored on freshman Alex Dickerson's RBI infield groundout for a 2-0 advantage and a solo home run by redshirt sophomore Kipp Schultz hiked the lead to 3-0. An RBI double by junior Tyler Rogers plated junior Jake Dunning to increase the leading margin to 4-0.
The home team added five additional runs in the second inning that was highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by Dunning and junior Evan Crawford which increased Indiana's leading margin to 9-0. A solo homer to left field by Rogers and a run-scoring double by Dunning off Cougar reliever Scott Balcer (Palatine, IL/Harper College) (Palatine, Ill.) in the third inning hiked IU's advantage to 11-0.
CSU sliced its deficit to 11-4 in the fourth inning with a four-run rally off Hoosier reliever Marshall Gorham that included redshirt freshman Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) connecting on his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot to left center. Senior Jeremy Perez (Chicago, IL/Univ. of Dubuque) (Chicago, Ill.) also posted an RBI single that plated senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ind.). IU held on defensively in the top of the fifth inning before the game was called due to heavy rainfall.
Dunning led Indiana by going 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and scored a pair of runs, while Sabourin also hit 2-for-2 and crossed home plate twice. Rogers finished with a 2-for-3 day with two RBI for the Hoosiers. Senior Matt Bashore (1-3) earned the victory for IU as he recorded six strikeouts and walked one in three innings of work in addition to allowing only two CSU hits.
The Cougars were led by Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark)'s 2-for-3 performance with three RBI and two stolen bases. Perez batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and freshman Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) also went 2-for-3 with a double. Tucker (1-7) took the loss for CSU after allowing nine runs and seven hits in one and two-thirds innings thrown in addition to walking three and posting a strikeout.
Chicago State travels to Charleston, Ill., Wednesday to face Eastern Illinois at Coaches Stadium with the first pitch set for 3 p.m., central time.
~CSU~
