RICHMOND, Ky. – Chicago State baseball kicked off its final weekend series of the season with a 15-3 loss to host Eastern Kentucky this afternoon at EKU's Turkey Hughes Field in Richmond, Ky. The Colonels improved their season record to 22-20, while the Cougars fell to 3-36 on the year.
CSU opened the game with an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophomore Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) led off the game with a single up the middle and later scored on an infield error which also plated senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.). Two plays later, Hernandez scored on an RBI single up the middle by redshirt freshman Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.). EKU came back with a pair of runs to even the score at 2-2 when senior Tyler Rehmel scored on a wild pitch and sophomore Jayson Langfels crossed home plate on a walk.
Freshman Richie Rodriguez led off the second inning with a walk and later scored on senior Matt Davis' RBI sacrifice fly to center field to give the home team a 3-2 lead.
The Colonels added nine more runs in the third inning behind a pair of two-run homers from junior Anthony Ottrando and Rehmel to increase their leading margin to 12-2. Rodriguez also added a two-run double to left center during the rally. Freshman Dustin Dunlop blasted a three-run homer to left field off CSU reliever Scott Balcer (Palatine, IL/Harper College) (Palatine, Ill.) in the fourth inning which made the score 15-2.
In the sixth inning, the visitors tallied a run when senior Deric Allen (Alhambra, CA/Alhambra HS) (Alhambra, Calif.) reached base on a throwing error and scored two plays later on an RBI single from senior Matt Haug (Plymouth, IN/Ancilla CC) (Plymouth, Calif.) for the final margin.
Ottrando and freshman A.J. Jamison each recorded two hits to lead EKU on the offensive end, while Rodriguez scored three runs. Freshman Greg Terry (2-1) allowed three runs (none earned) on eight hits while striking out nine and walking two en route to capturing the complete-game win for the Colonels.
Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) led CSU by hitting 2-for-3 for his third consecutive multi-hit game. Balcer (0-9) took the loss for the Cougars after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on six hits in one and two-thirds innings of work.
The Cougars and the Colonels will continue the series tomorrow afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.
~CSU~
