PORT CHARLOTTE, flo. - Chicago State Baseball picked up it's first win of the 2019 season in a thriller versus Big East foe Villanova during the Snowbird Classic in Florida, defeating the Wildcats 12-11.
Villanova scored the first runs of the game after posting three runs to open up the game in the top of the 1st. Dylan McNary opened up the scoring with an RBI single off of CSU starting pitcher Anthony Leedle (Clinton, Wis.).
The Cougars wasted no time in striking back by posting two runs in the bottom half of the first on an RBI triple from Andy Gaytan (Oak Forest, Ill.) and a sacrifice fly from Matt Sullivan (Lake in the Hills, Ill., Huntley). The scoring was then halted for both sides until the 3rd inning where Villanova added three runs on two hits and an error to grab a 6-2 lead.
The Cougars began to claw back at the 7-2 deficit by adding two runs in the 6th inning on a double from senior Tyler Lowe (Northville, Mich., Northville) that scored Gaytan, then sophomore Reggie Brock Jr. (Chicago, Ill., Simeon) produced two more by knocking in Lowe and Matt Cox (Bettendorf, Iowa, Bettendorf)) to cut the deficit to just two.
The Green and White didn't stop there, as they used the 7th inning to not only tie the game up but to ultimately take the lead. Nick Heidenthal (McHenry, Ill., Grant) kicked off the comeback with an RBI double. Sullivan followed the double with with an RBI single to tie the game, and then eventually scored on a wild pitch to take the lead.
The Wildcats entered the 9th inning facing a 10-7 deficit, and were able to take a 10-9 lead on a two RBI single by Chris Rotondo off of Yunis Halim (Chicago, Ill., Oak Lawn).
The Cougars then trailed by one heading into the bottom of the 9th. With only two outs remaining in the game, Matt Cox (Bettendorf, Iowa, Bettendorf) doubled down the third base line, then Brock Jr. picked up his third RBI of the game by hitting in Cox to tie the game. After a couple of walks, the Cougars loaded the bases for Gaytan. With two outs, Gaytan won the game on a single down the right field line, giving the Cougars their first win on the year.
Andy Gaytan (Oak Forest, Ill.) ended the game 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs, while Heidenthal also scored three times. Brock Jr. also had a big day at the plate going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including the game tying hit.
Halim (1-0) picked up the win after going an 1 2/3 of an inning and striking out two.
The Cougars will continue the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte on Saturday at 3:00 PM CT where they will take on Mount St. Marys (1-2) twice in a double header.
