HOUSTON – Chicago State baseball kicked off its weekend Great West Conference series here this afternoon with a 16-9 defeat to Houston Baptist at HBU's Husky Field. The Cougars dropped to 2-36 (0-13) on the year, while the Huskies improved their season record to 16-24 (6-7).
HBU captured an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Chase Hernandez singled home Zeke Zikeli from second base. Zikeli reached base two plays earlier on a one-out single and later stole second. The Huskies struck again in the second inning after Ben Coram, who opened the inning with a single, scored on Paul Prestera's RBI sacrifice fly to center field which increased their lead to 2-0.
Junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) lined an RBI single in the top of the third which scored senior Kellon McFarlin (Chicago, IL/Meramec CC) (Chicago, Ill.), who was hit by a pitch and later stole second, as the visitors sliced its deficit to 2-1.
HBU responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Hernandez' solo home run to left field as it increased its leading margin to 5-1. Jake Gonzalez hit a two-RBI single as part of a three-run fourth inning as the Huskies hiked their advantage to 8-1.
The Cougars added a run in the fifth inning to pull within 8-2 after junior Billy Les (Oak Lawn, IL/South Suburban College) (Oak Lawn, Ill.) reached base via a one-out single and later scored on a fielding error by the home team. Gonzalez then hit an RBI double to left field which scored Coram in the bottom of the sixth to give HBU a 9-2 lead. A seven-run rally in the seventh inning swelled HBU's leading margin to 16-2 which was highlighted by Coram's two-RBI double to center field.
CSU tallied four runs in the eighth inning behind a two-run double from junior Miguel Camacho (Chicago, IL/Oakton CC) (Chicago, Ill.) to cut the home team's lead to 16-6. Camacho struck again in the top of the ninth inning as he hit another two-RBI double that scored seniors Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) and Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickerington, Ont.) before crossing home plate on sophomore William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South)'s (Wheaton, Ill.) single for the final margin.
Camacho led Chicago State offensively by hitting 3-for-5 with four RBI, two doubles and scoring two runs. McFarlin, Carpen, Hill and Les finished the game with two hits, respectively. Sophomore Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) took the loss on the mound for the Cougars after giving up nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits in five and one-third innings thrown, but he also finished with three strikeouts on the day. Freshman Dayton Dalman (Nashville, IL/Nashville) (Nashville, Ill.) posted one and two-thirds innings of shutout relief.
Coram went 4-for-6 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI to pace Houston Baptist, while Prestera hit 3-for-5 with four RBI. Dalton Schafer (6-4) captured the win after recording five strikeouts in seven and two-thirds innings of work despite allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon with doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
~CSU~
