CHICAGO – Chicago State baseball kicked off its first Great West Conference home series of the year here today as it fell to visiting NYIT by a score 5-1 at Brooks Field. The Bears improved their season record to 7-17 (3-2) and the Cougars' record dropped to 4-24 (0-5) on the year.
Senior Michael Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) became passed Mark Winston (1990-93) to become CSU's all-time hits leader after recording his 193rd career hit on a bunt single in the third inning. He finished the game hitting 1-of-3 at the plate.
The first five innings served as a pitcher's duel between CSU's Steven O'Hair (Scottsdale, AZ/GateWay CC) (Phoenix, Ariz.) and NYIT's Preston Wasmund with both teams having several offensive opportunities shut down by both hurlers.
The Bears finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning with a four-run rally to capture a 4-0 lead with behind RBI singles from senior Effery Valdez and Steve McNamara. The Green and White posted a run in the bottom of the sixth when junior Weston Lewis (Denver, CO/Colby CC) (Denver, Colo.) singled home junior Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) to slice their deficit to 4-1.
Valdez struck again in the seventh after posting an RBI single to center field off O'Hair which scored sophomore Ali Rodriguez from third for the final margin.
Carpen paced Chicago State by hitting 3-of-3 at the plate and scored a run, while Lewis batted 2-of-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
O'Hair (0-6) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings of work while posting two strikeouts and two walks. Junior Andrew Watson (Shawnee, OK/Eastern Oklahoma State CC) (Shawnee, Okla.) threw a scoreless seventh with a strikeout and a walk.
NYIT was led by Valdez' 2-of-4 effort at the plate with two RBI and scored a run, while Steve McNamara hit 2-of-3 and drove in a run. Wasmund (1-5) pitched all seven innings as he allowed a run on seven hits with two strikeouts for the Bears.
Both teams will continue their series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader of two nine-inning games at Brooks Field with a start time of 12 noon.
~CSU~
