Cougars Finish Home Schedule and New Mexico State WAC Series

Senior Rick Salazar batted 2-for-3 with a double in CSU's home finale today against New Mexico State

Box Score

CHICAGO – Chicago State baseball finished its 2017 home schedule this afternoon by falling to New Mexico State, 3-1, in finale of a three-game Western Athletic Conference weekend series at Cougar Stadium.

Prior to the start of the game, seniors Brad Moore (Mount Prospect, Ill./Hersey), Josh Willis (Omaha, Neb./Millard South), Rick Salazar (Bloomingdale, Ill./Plainfield South), Noe Arteaga (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech), Josh Perkins (Huntley, Ill./Huntley), Jake Perkins (Huntley, Ill./Huntley), Sanford Hunt (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood) and Julian Russell (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) were honored in a senior day ceremony by the team.

CSU gained a 1-0 lead in the first inning after junior Jacob Vanitvelt (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) hit a one-out single then scored on an RBI infield groundout from fellow junior Cody Freund (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) two plays later.

The visitors tied the score at 1-1 in the third on Austin Botello's RBI infield groundout which plated L.J. Hatch from third after he reached base via a triple.

An RBI sacrifice fly from Hatch to right field brought home Joey Ortiz to give NM State a 2-1 advantage in the fifth inning.

The Aggies scored their final run in the eighth on Mason Fishback's RBI single to center field to bring home a second run for Hatch.

Salazar hit 2-for-3 with a double in his final home game in a CSU uniform, while junior Matt Sullivan (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) batted 2-for-4. Sophomore relief pitcher Joe Baier (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) fell to 3-3 on the year after allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings thrown.

NMSU was paced by Fishback as he hit 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Jonathan Groff (8-5) scattered six hits and gave up a run to go along with striking out four batters for the win. Ruger Rodriguez earned the save after throwing a scoreless ninth inning.

The Cougars head to Greeley, Colo., next week for their final WAC series of the season at Northern Colorado which begins Thursday at 5 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#9 Cody Freund: C; 5' 11"; Junior; L-R

#25 Sanford Hunt: IF/OF; 6' 0"; Senior; R-R

#33 Brad Moore: P; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior; L-L

#31 Jake Perkins: P; 6' 1"; Senior; L-L

#32 Josh Perkins: P; 6' 5"; Senior; R-R

#1 Julian Russell: IF; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R-R

#22 Rick Salazar: IF; 6' 0"; Senior; R-R

#26 Matt Sullivan: IF; 5' 10"; Junior; R-R

#21 Josh Willis: P; 6' 1"; Senior; L-L

#23 Jacob Vanitvelt: OF; 5' 10"; Junior; L-L

Players Mentioned

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

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

#9 Cody Freund
: 5' 11"; Junior; L-R
: C

#25 Sanford Hunt
: 6' 0"; Senior; R-R
: IF/OF

#33 Brad Moore
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior; L-L
: P

#31 Jake Perkins
: 6' 1"; Senior; L-L
: P

#32 Josh Perkins
: 6' 5"; Senior; R-R
: P

#1 Julian Russell
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R-R
: IF

#22 Rick Salazar
: 6' 0"; Senior; R-R
: IF

#26 Matt Sullivan
: 5' 10"; Junior; R-R
: IF

#21 Josh Willis
: 6' 1"; Senior; L-L
: P

#23 Jacob Vanitvelt
: 5' 10"; Junior; L-L
: OF

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned