EDINBURG, Texas – Chicago State baseball opened the inaugural Great West Conference Tournament here today in the first day of pool play with a heartbreaking 9-8 defeat to regular season champion Utah Valley at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Wolverines improved to 39-17 and the Cougars dropped to 4-50 on the year.
UVU took a 1-0 advantage in the first inning when junior Chris Benson lined an RBI sacrifice fly to right center which plated junior Jake Richenbach from third after he led off the inning with a single through the left side.
The Cougars came back with a rally in the second inning as senior Austin McDowell (Coal City, IL/Olney Central College) (Coal City, Ill.) and junior Miguel Camacho (Chicago, IL/Oakton CC) (Chicago, Ill.) reached base on singles in back-to-back plays before scoring on a single by senior Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickerington, Ont.) to center field to gain a 2-1 lead.
In the third inning, UVU evened the score at 2-2 after senior Jace Brinkerhoff drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on Benson's RBI single through the left side off CSU starter Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.).
CSU reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the fifth inning after freshman Christian Prince (Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville) (Hudsonville, Mich.) crossed home plate on a throwing error by UVU which followed him opening the stanza with a single to left field.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the fifth inning as junior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) recorded an RBI double to left center and Prince posted a run-scoring single to increase the Cougars' advantage to 5-2.
The Wolverines scored four runs in the seventh inning to gain a 6-5 advantage, highlighted by a three-run double by Benson to left field and an RBI single from sophomore Goose Kallunki.
The Cougars regained the lead at 8-6 in the eighth inning behind a two-RBI double from senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) and McDowell later added an RBI fielder's choice that plated Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark). Sophomore Jason Zundel recorded an RBI single in the eighth inning that scored redshirt freshman Derek Amicone from third base to slice CSU's leading margin to 8-7.
UVU loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth before senior Sage Thorpe belted the game-winning hit - a two-run double to left field - to end the game.
Chicago State was led by sophomore William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) (Wheaton, Ill.), who had a career day by hitting 4-for-5 and scored twice with a stolen base, while Hernandez went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs. Prince also hit 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) threw seven and one-third innings on the mound and posted three strikeouts while keeping UVU at bay throughout the game. McDowell (1-9) took the loss for CSU after allowing two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
Zundel led Utah Valley at the plate by going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Benson went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and drove in five runs. Sophomore Craig Brimhall (4-2) earned the win in relief after holding CSU to one scoreless inning while recording a strikeout.
The Cougars return to action tomorrow morning as they will battle fourth-seeded Houston Baptist on the second day of pool play with the first pitch set for 9 a.m.
~CSU~
