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CHICAGO – Chicago State dropped the third and final game of a non-conference series with South Dakota State on Saturday (March 22) afternoon at Cougar Stadium 10-6 in 10 innings.
The Cougars took a 4-1 lead into the top of the ninth only to see the Jackrabbits score five runs. Chicago State tied it up with two runs in their half of the ninth, but a four spot by South Dakota State in the 10
th ended up being the difference. Chicago State surrendered just four runs to South Dakota State over the first 31 innings of the series. Then the Jackrabbits scored nine runs in their final two times at bat.
Down 6-4 in the ninth, Chicago State plated their fifth run on a beautifully executed double steal. Junior
Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, ONT/Notre Dame) stole second just under the tag and then junior
Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) raced home, beating the throw back to the plate. A ground out kept Romanin at second base for the second out of the inning. Junior
Jordan Stroschein (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) stepped to the plate and on a 1-1 count singled to left field. The ball was hit slow enough to allow Romanin to easily score from second. Stroschein proceeded to steal second but was stranded there to end the ninth. It would go down as Chicago State's best chance to win the game after the Jackrabbits tallied four runs in the 10
th inning.
Patterson, who came in from center field to pitch the 10
th, picked up the loss. He is now 0-1. J.D. Moore for South Dakota State who blew the save in the ninth picked up the win to move his record to 1-2. Chicago State starter
Dane Mehring (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) was in line for the win, after allowing just one unearned run on four hits through six innings. He was awarded a no decision.
"Dane was outstanding on the mound and we pitched the ball well all weekend," Chicago State head coach
Steve Joslyn said. "I'm proud of our guys for battling back with two in the ninth. That showed a lot of character. We played a good team that is very similar to us. At times it felt like we were looking into a mirror, but that's a good thing because they are a good program and it shows we are on the right track."
Stroschein finished 3-of-5 at the plate with an RBI. Junior
Robert Swenson (Mason City, Iowa/Mason City) and Patterson each had an RBI and two hits. Romanin's fifth inning solo home run was his first of the season.
South Dakota State, the reigning Summit League Tournament Champion, is now 11-11. The Cougars are 9-10. Chicago State travels to Western Illinois on Tuesday (March 25) to play another Summit League team. Tuesday's first pitch against the Fighting Leathernecks is set for 3 p.m. in Macomb, Ill.
