CHICAGO (April 4, 2009) – Chicago State baseball kicked off its lone weekend home series of the season today as it earned a doubleheader split against Urbana with a 2-0 loss in the first game and an 8-7 comeback win in the second contest. The Cougars moved their record to 3-25 on the year, while the Blue Knights saw their record shift to 14-13.
The visitors took advantage of a pair of CSU errors and timely hitting off CSU freshman starter James Tucker (Gary, IN/Calumet) (Gary, Ind.) to capture an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. Junior Andrew Harrell, senior Russ Chambers and freshman Tyler Rinker all recorded RBI singles during the inning.
Urbana increased its leading margin to 5-0 in the second inning after senior Jordan Baker connected on an RBI single through the left side that brought home junior Matt Murphy, who led off with a single and later stole second. Murphy and Baker would team up again to repeat the same pattern in the fourth inning as the Blue Knights hiked their lead to 6-0.
CSU go on the board in the fifth inning with three runs on four hits that helped slice its deficit to 6-3. The inning was highlighted by a two-run double by senior Preston Pires (Waipahu, HI/Kalani HS) (Waipahu, Hawai'i) to right center that plated sophomore Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) and junior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.), who reached base with back-to-back singles.
The Cougars continued their offensive onslaught in the sixth inning which gave them a slim 7-6 advantage. Freshman Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) connected with a one-out double and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI infield groundout by Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark). McDowell later brought home freshman William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) (Wheaton, Ill.) from third with an RBI bunt single before scoring himself on an RBI single by senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.). The comeback was completed when Pires scored following an Urbana balk.
Urbana managed to tie the score at 7-7 in the top of the seventh when Baker lined a leadoff single off Cougar reliever Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickering, Ont.) and later crossed home plate with a RBI double by senior David Patz. The Blue Knights managed to load the bases before Hussey forced a strikeout and an infield groundout to end the scoring threat.
Redshirt freshman Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) opened the bottom of the seventh for CSU with a walk before moving to second on a fielding error and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark). After Hill drew an intentional walk, Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) scored the winning run after Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) drew a RBI walk off Urbana reliever Brandon Hamilton to end the game.
Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) paced the Cougars with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two RBI. McDowell and Pires each hit 2-for-3 with two RBI. Hussey (1-0) earned his first collegiate win after giving up a run on two hits in one inning thrown.
Baker finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and scored a pair of runs, while Murphy went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases for Urbana. Hamilton (2-3) took the loss after allowing a run and a hit in two-thirds innings of work in addition walking three and striking out one.
In the first game, the Blue Knights scored a pair of runs in the third inning. Murphy opened the rally with a walk and moved to second on a Harrell single before scoring on a Baker single to right center. Harrell later scored on a Cougar infield error to provide the final margin.
The Cougars could get no offensive rhythm thanks to the pitching of junior Dustin Lacy as he threw a one-hit complete game. Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) recorded the lone hit in the second inning with a bunt single. Freshman Gregory Day (East Chicago, IN/East Chicago Central) (East Chicago, Ind.) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start by allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings to go along with four strikeouts and three walks.
Chambers led the Blue Knights with a 3-for-4 day at the plate and Harrell went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lacy (2-3) earned the win by recording six strikeouts and walked three for the visitors.
Both teams will return to Brooks Field tomorrow morning for a second doubleheader to conclude the series with the first game starting at 10 a.m.
~CSU~
