PEORIA, Ill. – Chicago State baseball concluded its string of three consecutive doubleheader since last weekend on Tuesday evening after losing a pair of close games to host Bradley at O'Brien Field in Peoria, Ill., by scores of 10-8 in the first game and 8-5 in the second contest. The Braves improve to 11-16 on the year, while the Cougars' season ledger dropped to 3-29.
Bradley kicked off the first game by jumping out to an early 5-0 in the first inning on CSU freshman starter Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) that was highlighted by a grand slam by Jim Clayton and an RBI double by Adam Kimble. The Braves increased their lead to 6-0 in the second inning when Matt Fritz posted a leadoff bunt single and driven home on a single up the middle by Grant Escue.
The visitors got on the board in the third inning when senior Kellon McFarlin (Chicago, IL/Meramec CC) (Chicago, Ill.) reached base on a passed ball after striking out and moved to third base on a single from sophomore Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) before scoring on a wild pitch that brought CSU to within 6-1. The Cougars scored another run in the fourth inning when senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) lined a leadoff single and crossed home plate three plays later on an RBI single from senior Matt Haug (Plymouth, IN/Ancilla CC) (Plymouth, Ind.) to slice their deficit to 6-2.
A three-run double by Nick Mitidero highlighted a four-run fifth inning which propelled the Braves' leading margin at 10-2.
CSU responded with a big inning of its own in the seventh by scoring six runs thanks to timely hitting and four walks to close within 10-8. Junior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) lined a two-run single and Hernandez connected on an RBI triple before scoring on a balk. The Cougars had a chance to tie the game with one out and a runner on base, but Bradley reliever Bryan Porter induced a pair of infield groundouts to close the contest.
Hernandez led Chicago State at the plate by hitting 3-for-4 and scored twice, while McDowell went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Carpen (0-3) took the loss for CSU as he allowed nine runs on nine hits, but also recorded four walks and two strikeouts, in four and one-third innings pitched.
Four Bradley players recorded two hits for the game and Clayton recorded four RBI. Justin Zielger (1-0) claimed the win for the Braves after giving up only two runs (one earned) on six hits in six innings of work, while Porter was credited with the save.
In the second game, CSU opened with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. McDowell reached base on a walk and senior Preston Pires (Waipahu, HI/Kalani HS) (Waipahu, Hawai'i) lined a one-out double to right field to start the rally. McDowell later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hernandez and Pires was brought home by Haug thanks to an RBI single through the left side of the infield. The home team scored two in the bottom half of the first with an RBI double from Kimble and a run-scoring single from Brett Hendricks to even the score at 2-2.
An RBI double from Pires and an RBI single by redshirt freshman Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) in the third inning brought home two more runs as the Cougars recaptured the lead at 4-2. Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) struck again in the top of the fifth as he brought home Hernandez, who blasted a leadoff triple to right center, from third base to hike the visitors' leading margin to 5-2.
The Braves came back in the bottom of the fifth with RBI singles from Mitidero, Kimble and Colby Lutrell along with an RBI groundout by Escue off CSU starter James Tucker (Gary, IN/Calumet) (Gary, Ind.) to claim a slim 6-5 advantage. Three plays later, Clayton posted a two-run double off reliever Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickering, Ont.) to right field that increased the score to 8-5. The Braves held on defensively in the final two innings to preserve the win.
McDowell went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Cougar hitters. Pires finished the game hitting 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Tucker allowed eight runs on eight hits in four and two-thirds innings of work as his season record fell to 1-8 on the year.
Kimble led Bradley by going 2-for-3 offensively with a double, two RBI and scored twice. Fritz hit a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and scored a run. Joe Bircher (2-2) captured the win in relief for the Braves after striking out four batters and only allowing a run on two hits in three and two-thirds innings pitched. Porter recorded his second save of the day as he gave up a hit, but struck out two batters in one inning.
The Cougars travel south this weekend as they begin a three-game series at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark. The first game of the series from Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field will take place Friday at 6 p.m. Fans can listen to this weekend's series live on the internet at www.gocsucougars.com.
~CSU~
