CHICAGO (March 20, 2010) – Three players recorded three hits and two RBI as Chicago State baseball captured its first victory of the 2010 season after narrowly defeating Southern Utah, 12-11, Friday evening at the Palm Beach Challenge in Palm Beach, Fla. The Cougars improved to 1-6 on the year, while the Thunderbirds dropped to 3-12.
SUU kicked off the game with an early 2-0 lead after junior Levi Swenson hit an RBI double and senior Matt Sanford recorded a run-scoring single. CSU responded in the second inning with a pair of runs highlighted by an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.).
The Cougars added four runs in the top of the third to take a 6-2 lead after receiving RBI singles from Carpen, senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) and junior Miguel Camacho (Chicago, IL/Oakton CC) (Chicago, Ill.), but SUU scored three in the bottom half of the inning to close within 6-5.
Sophomore Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) lined a two-RBI double to left field as part of a five-run rally in the top of the fourth that helped CSU increase its leading margin to 11-5. Camacho and junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) also recorded RBI singles as part of the Green and White's seven-hit inning. The Thunderbirds scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth behind a two-run double from junior Tyler Hogge to slice their deficit to 11-8.
Hernandez lined an RBI double to center field in the top of the fifth to score junior Billy Les (Oak Lawn, IL/South Suburban College) (Oak Lawn, Ill.), who opened the inning with a walk to put CSU ahead 12-8, but SUU regained a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double from Swenson to pull within 12-9.
The Thunderbirds scored a run in the sixth and eighth innings to close within 12-11, and threatened to score in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on second base with one out. However, Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark), who took the mound in relief in the eighth inning, forced a groundout and struck out a batter to close the game for CSU.
Hernandez, Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) and senior Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickerington, Ont.) each posted three hits and two RBI with Hussey scoring three runs. Freshman Luc Faron (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell) (St. Peters, Mo.) captured his first collegiate win after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits in three innings of relief; while Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) pitched two scoreless innings to gain his first NCAA save.
Southern Utah was paced by sophomore Bo Cuthbertson's 4-of-6 day at the plate and scored three runs. Kyle Hamann (0-4) took the loss after giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits in two and two-third innings thrown.
The Cougars close Palm Beach Challenge series with Southern Utah tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.
~CSU~
