Baseball Edges Past Chicago in Non-Conference Finale, 6-5

Chris Hipchen batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored twice to help CSU defeat Chicago at Cougar Stadium

Box Score

CHICAGO – Chicago State baseball concluded its four-game homestand here at Cougar Stadium this evening as it edged past the University of Chicago by a score of 6-5 in the final non-conference contest of the season.

The home team broke a scoreless tie in the second inning for a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs that included an RBI double from freshman Malik Carpenter (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and an RBI sacrifice fly from fellow freshman Joe Baier (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port).

Chicago came back in the top of the third to score two runs of its own to even the score at 2-2 before the Green and White tallied three runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead at 4-2. Senior Chris Hipchen (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to bring home freshman Cody Grosse (Joliet, Ill./West) from third and Carpenter later drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded that brought home senior Andy Gertonson (Crystal Lake Ill./Central).

Grosse struck again in the fourth inning as he belted his team-leading fifth triple of the season to right field before crossing home plate on an RBI groundout from Gertonson to bring CSU's leading margin to 5-2.

The Maroons (18-16) regrouped in the top of the fifth with three runs to once again tie the game at 5-5 which included an RBI single up the middle from Ryan Krob before Hipchen closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fifth with his second home run of the year, a solo shot to left center, for the game-winning run.

CSU held on defensively for the win over the final four innings as pitchers Jerry Silva (Chicago, Ill./Holy Trinity), Josh Perkins (Huntley, Ill./Huntley), Noe Arteaga (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) and Zach Thomas (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West ) combined to allow only two UC hits in relief of starter Jamary McKinney (Chicago, Ill./Simeon).

Hipchen finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored twice, while Carpenter also batted 2-for-3 and drove in two runs. Grosse went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Gertonson hit 2-for-4. Silva captured his first win of the season by allowing a hit in two-thirds of an inning thrown and Thomas got three consecutive outfield fly outs in the ninth to record his fourth save of the year.

Connor Hickey led Chicago with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a run batted in. Michael DiStefano (0-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in two relief innings.

CSU travels to Bakersfield, Calif., this weekend to battle host CSU Bakersfield in a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Hardt Field beginning Friday night at 6 p.m., Pacific Time (8 p.m., Central Time).

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Players Mentioned

#7 Andy Gertonson: OF/IF; 6' 4"; Senior; R-R

#19 Chris Hipchen: OF; 6' 2"; Senior; R-R

#9 Jerry Silva: P; 5' 10"; Senior; R-R

#44 Zach Thomas: P/OF; 5' 11"; Sophomore; L-L

#2 Joe Baier: IF/OF/P; 6' 0"; Freshman; R-R

#5 Malik Carpenter: IF; 6' 0"; Freshman; R-R

#10 Cody Grosse: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R-L

#13 Jamary McKinney: IF/P; 6' 1"; Freshman; R-R

#50 Noe Arteaga: P; 6' 2"; Junior; R-R

#32 Josh Perkins: P; 6' 4"; Junior; R-R

Players Mentioned

#7 Andy Gertonson
: 6' 4"; Senior; R-R
: OF/IF

#19 Chris Hipchen
: 6' 2"; Senior; R-R
: OF

#9 Jerry Silva
: 5' 10"; Senior; R-R
: P

#44 Zach Thomas
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; L-L
: P/OF

#2 Joe Baier
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R-R
: IF/OF/P

#5 Malik Carpenter
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R-R
: IF

#10 Cody Grosse
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R-L
: IF/OF

#13 Jamary McKinney
: 6' 1"; Freshman; R-R
: IF/P

#50 Noe Arteaga
: 6' 2"; Junior; R-R
: P

#32 Josh Perkins
: 6' 4"; Junior; R-R
: P

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned