CEDAR CITY, Utah – Chicago State University baseball closed out a three-game weekend series here Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader versus host Southern Utah, but the Thunderbirds swept the twinbill by scores of 8-7 in the first game and 9-2 in the series finale.
The Cougars (0-18) opened the first game with an early 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an RBI single from senior Jeremy Ratajczyk (Highland, IN/Indiana University Northwest) (Highland, Ind.) that leaked through the right side of the infield which brought home freshman Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, ONT/Notre Dame) (Burlington, Ontario), who reached base on a one-out double, from third base.
SUU (6-16) came back to even the score at 1-1 in the second inning when redshirt senior Justin Neuhart led off the inning with a walk and later crossed home plate on an RBI infield groundout from senior David Ricker. The hosts took advantage of a CSU fielding error en route to adding four additional runs in the fourth inning to capture a 5-1 lead, but senior Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) lined an RBI single in the fifth inning which brought home senior Jack Bobillo (Michigan City, IN/Kalamazoo Valley CC) (Michigan City, Ind.) from third base to close the visitor's deficit to 5-2.
The Green and White used a three-run rally in the top of the sixth to even the score at 5-5, highlighted by an RBI single from senior Shane McGaharan (Northwood, OH/Patrick Henry CC) (Northwood, Ohio), but the Thunderbirds regained a 6-5 advantage in the bottom half of the inning after senior Bo Cuthbertson hit an RBI double that scored redshirt sophomore Tyson Weber.
Ratajczyk struck again for CSU in the top of the seventh as he blasted a two-RBI single up the middle off SUU reliever Bryson Kenolio which scored Romanin and Carpen to hand the Green and White a slim 7-6 lead. An RBI single from sophomore Chaisson Low in the bottom of the seventh scored redshirt senior Mitchell Kauweloa as the Thunderbirds evened the score at 7-7.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the ninth inning when redshirt sophomore Brad Royer lined an RBI single off Cougar relief pitcher Andrew Watson (Shawnee, OK/Eastern Oklahoma State CC) (Shawnee, Okla.) that landed into center field which scored pinch runner Ronald Burton from second base for the winning run.
Ratajczyk and Carpen each recorded three hits to lead Chicago State with Ratajczyk driving home three runs, while senior Ryan Malhotra (Oakville, ONT/Niagara County CC) (Oakville, Ontario) added a 2-of-4 effort at the plate. Watson (0-3) took the loss despite allowing an unearned run on two hits in two and two-thirds innings of work in addition to posting two strikeouts and two walks for the Cougars.
Cuthbertson recorded two hits and drove home two runs to lead four Southern Utah players with two hits in the contest and redshirt junior Kelsey Outram (1-4) claimed the win on the mound as he threw a pair of two and two-thirds innings of relief while allowing only two hits.
The second game began with the Thunderbirds scoring four runs off CSU starting pitcher A.J. Reyes (Winter Haven, FL/Polk State CC) (Winter Haven, Fla.) in the first inning to gain an early 4-0 lead, highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Neuhart. CSU didn't get on the board until the sixth inning when Malhotra lined an RBI single up the middle that plated junior Eric O'Brien (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino) (Tucson, Ariz.), who reached base with via a walk, to pull the visitors to within 4-1.
After increasing its lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning, SUU plated four more runs in the eighth thanks to a two-run double from freshman Kevin Kline and a two-RBI single by fellow freshman Jordan Zymola that hiked its advantage to 9-1.
CSU closed out the scoring in the ninth inning when junior Jeremy Legania (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) (Chicago, Ill.) lined an RBI single off Kline up the middle which brought home senior William Hill (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) (Wheaton, Ill.) to provide the final margin.
Bobillo went 2-of-4 at the plate to lead CSU's offensive output, while Reyes (0-2) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits in six innings thrown. He also posted three strikeouts and three walks on the day.
The Thunderbirds were led by Kline and Zymola, who each hit 2-of-4 with two RBI. Junior Chase Rezac (2-3) struck out nine batters while giving up a run on seven hits in eight innings of work for the win.
CSU begins Great West Conference play on April 3-5 in Texas with a four-game series against Houston Baptist.
~CSU~
