NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Chicago State baseball opened a six-game slate this week with a battle at Notre Dame, but dropped a close contest by a score of 6-4 at ND's Frank Eck Stadium. Notre Dame improved its season record to 12-19, while the Cougars fell to 1-23 on the year.
The Fighting Irish opened the scoring in the second inning with a 1-0 lead when senior Ryan Connolly plated fellow classmate Billy Boockford, who led off the inning with a single, from second with an RBI double. Notre Dame increased its lead to 2-0 after senior Brayden Ashdown lined a run-scoring to left field that scored senior David Mills.
CSU bounced back in the top of the fifth to gain a 3-2 lead behind a two-run single from senior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) and an RBI single from junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.). Ashdown connected on a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to help Notre Dame reclaim a 4-3 advantage.
The Cougars closed to within 5-4 after Carpen brought home junior Billy Les (Oak Lawn, IL/South Suburban College) (Oak Lawn, Ill.), who led off with a double down the left field line, with an RBI fielder's choice, but Connolly singled home junior Cameron McConnell to hike the Fighting Irish advantage back to 6-4.
In the ninth inning, CSU threatened to tie the score with runners on first and second, but sophomore Will Hudgins came in to force Carpen to a groundout and earn the save.
McDowell, Hussey and redshirt sophomore Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) each hit 2-of-4 at the plate for Chicago State with McDowell driving in two runs. Sophomore Gregory Day (East Chicago, IN/East Chicago Central) (East Chicago, Ind.) gave up four runs on eight hits in four and one-third innings of work to take the loss. Sophomore James Tucker (Gary, IN/Calumet) (Gary, Ind.) went on to record a strikeout and walk in one inning of relief.
Ashdown led Notre Dame offensively by hitting 2-of-5 with three runs driven in and Connolly went 2-of-5 with two RBI. Sophomore Will Hudgins (2-1) captured the win for the Fighting Irish by allowing one run on four hits in four and one-third innings of relief.
The Cougars open their home schedule tomorrow afternoon at Olive-Harvey College with a non-conference contest against Indiana State with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.
~CSU~
