FT. WAYNE, Ind. – Chicago State baseball traveled back to Indiana today as it dropped a non-conference doubleheader to host IPFW by scores of 21-6 and 14-6 at Mastodon Field. The Mastodons improved to 4-21, while the Cougars fell to 1-18 on the year.
The home team gained a 2-0 advantage in the first inning thanks to a two-run double from senior Shaun VanDriessche off Cougar starter Scott Balcer (Palatine, IL/Harper College) (Palatine, Ill.) to left field that brought home juniors Cory Miller and Brett Clark.
CSU closed within a run at 2-1 in the third inning after redshirt sophomore Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by senior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) to right field.
Senior Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickerington, Ont.) recorded an RBI single that plated senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.), while sophomore Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) singled home Hussey which handed the visitors a slim 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth. IPFW scored 10 runs in the bottom half of the fourth, highlighted by a two-run homer and a run-scoring double from VanDriessche, to recapture a 12-3 lead.
The Mastodons outscored CSU by a 9-3 margin in the final three innings with junior A.J. Christensen blasting a three-run homer in the fifth inning to end the game.
Junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) led CSU by hitting 3-of-4 in the game with a double and two stolen bases. McDowell, senior Kellon McFarlin (Chicago, IL/Meramec CC) (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) each added two hits at the plate. Balcer (0-2) took the loss after allowing 12 runs (six earned) on 13 hits in four innings pitched, while freshman Jeremy Jones (Chicago, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) (Chicago, Ill.) recorded three strikeouts in two relief innings.
Christensen batted a perfect 4-of-4 and drove in six runs, while VanDriessche hit 3-of-4 with two homers and four RBI for IPFW. Junior Samuel Walker (2-4) pitched a complete game and struck out eight in addition to giving up six runs on 12 hits for the Mastodons.
IPFW opened the second game with a 5-0 lead after Cristensen blasted a grand slam and junior Kurt Dudley hit a solo homer in the first inning. VanDriessche blasted a two-run homer in the second inning to increase the lead to 7-0.
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the third which included a run-scoring single from Christian Prince (Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville) (Husdonville, Mich.) to close their deficit to 7-2, but the home team scored two in the bottom of the third on a double from junior Brendan Landwehr to hike the lead back to 9-2. A VanDreissche solo homer in the fourth inning brought IPFW's leading margin to 10-2.
CSU added four runs in the top of the fifth which included a two-run sacrifice fly by Prince to close its deficit 10-6 before IPFW scored the final four runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the win.
Prince went 2-of-3 with three RBI to lead CSU. McFarlin also went 2-of-3 and scored a run, while McDowell hit 2-of-4 with two RBI and Hussey went 2-of-4 with a run. Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 13 hits to go along with five strikeouts in his first-ever collegiate start on the mound.
Dudley posted three hits and scored three times, and Christensen drove in five runs to lead IPFW. Senior Brandon Knowling (1-1) struck out four batters while allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits in five innings of work.
The Cougars open their home schedule tomorrow afternoon against Eastern Illinois at Olive-Harvey College with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.
~CSU~
