CHARLESTON, Ill. – Chicago State baseball made its return to the Midwest and battled defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champ Eastern Illinois here today, but fell to the host Panthers by a score of 4-1 at EIU's Coaches Stadium. The Cougars dropped to 1-8 on the young season, while the Panthers improved their record to 4-14.
The visitors struck early in the first inning when junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) scored on an RBI infield groundout by sophomore William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) (Wheaton, Ill.) after leading off with an infield single.
EIU evened the score at 1-1 in the third inning when senior Richie Derbak lined an RBI double to plate sophomore Zach Borenstein, who opened the inning with a walk.
The Panthers captured a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning as Borenstein lined a run-scoring double to left field which scored freshman Ryan Dineen. Two more runs crossed the plate in the eighth inning to provide the final margin.
Senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) led Chicago State at the plate by hitting 3-of-4 with a double, while freshman Christian Prince (Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville) (Hudsonville, Mich.) hit 2-of-3. Senior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) took the loss on the mound and fell to 0-2 on the year after giving up two runs on nine hits in seven innings thrown.
Derbak went 3-of-3 with an RBI to pace Eastern Illinois. Junior Cam Strang hit 3-of-4 with a double and scored a run on the day. Junior Mark Recchia (2-2) earned the win for the Panthers after recording two strikeouts and allowing four hits in two innings in relief, while junior Matt Miller allowed no runs and struck out a batter in the ninth to record the save.
The Cougars return to action this Friday in West Lafayette, Ind., as they begin a four-game weekend series against Purdue with a start time of 4 p.m., Eastern Time.
~CSU~
