AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Chicago State baseball team continued its spring break trip here Wednesday afternoon with the second of four games as part of the Russ Matt Invitational, but dropped a close 9-8 decision to Long Island University at Lake Myrtle Park. The Cougars fell to 1-7 on the year, while LIU hiked its season record to 6-6.
CSU started the game by scoring five runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from junior William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) (Wheaton, Ill.) and an RBI double from senior Miguel Camacho (Chicago, IL/Oakton CC) (Chicago, Ill.).
Hill lined an RBI triple in the top of the fifth that scored Camacho from first and later scored on a run-scoring single from junior Jack Bobillo (Michigan City, IN/Kalamazoo Valley CC) (Michigan City, Ind.) to increase its leading margin to 7-0, but LIU sliced its deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth when junior Drew Walsh singled home a pair of runs.
After junior Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) blasted his first home run of the season to hike the Green and White's advantage to 8-2 in the top of the sixth, the Blackbirds evened the score at 8-8 by scoring six runs in the stanza with Walsh and senior Sam Sciamarelli each driving home two runs.
In the eighth inning, Walsh plated Sciamarelli from third base with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field for the winning run and LIU held firm defensively in the ninth inning.
Carpen paced Chicago State by hitting 3-of-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, while dropping to 1-2 on the mound after giving up two runs on five hits in three relief innings. He struck out two batters and walked one. Hill finished the game with a 2-of-5 effort at the plate with three RBI.
Sciamarelli hit 4-of-5 while scoring three runs and producing two RBI to lead Long Island on the offensive end. Sophomore Justin Topa (3-1) gained the win for the Blackbirds after striking out three batters and walking one in the eighth inning, and sophomore Evan Zerff captured the save after throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
The Cougars continue play in the Russ Matt Invitational on Friday against Maryland-Baltimore County with the start time set for 5:30 p.m.
~CSU~
