KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Freshman Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, ONT/Notre Dame) (Burlington, Ontario) went 3-of-4 at the plate with a double in helping the Chicago State baseball team capture a 1-0 road victory at Western Michigan this afternoon in a non-conference contest at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium. It marked the second shutout in the last three games for the Green and White.
The first two innings started out as a scoreless pitcher's duel between CSU's Gregory Day (East Chicago, IN/East Chicago Central) (East Chicago, Ind.) and WMU's Mike Moyer with each hurler allowing one baserunner during this stretch.
In the third inning, the Cougars scored the game's lone run when junior Johnny Cantu (Chicago, Ill./Morton CC) (Chicago, Ill.) reached base on a one-out walk from Moyer, advanced to third on consecutive bunt singles from senior Albert Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) and Romanin before crossing home via a balk.
The Broncos had their best chance to score in the seventh inning as freshman Jared Kujawa hit a leadoff single and freshman Caleb Caton reached base on a throwing error to put runners on second and third with one out, but junior reliever A.J. Reyes (Winter Haven, FL/Polk State CC) (Winter Haven, Fla.) relieved Day and forced the final two outs to end the inning. WMU would not get another scoring opportunity in the final two innings.
Senior Ryan Malhotra (Oakville, ONT/Niagara County CC) (Oakville, Ontario) finished with a 2-of-4 day offensively for CSU, while Day (1-4) allowed only four hits in six innings thrown to go along with three walks and two strikeouts in earning his first win of the season. Reyes posted three strikeouts and walked one in three innings of relief to capture his first save in a Cougar uniform.
Western Michigan was paced by Caton's 2-of-3 effort on the day and Moyer (0-3) produced four strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work while allowing one run on seven hits.
The Cougars return to Great West Conference play this weekend as they travel west to Colorado for a four-game series against Northern Colorado in Greely. The first game from Jackson Field will be this Friday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m., Mountain Time.
~CSU~
