Ball State University
Chicago State
Baseball Drops Series Finale To Chicago State, 3-0
March 15, 2009 | Baseball
Chicago State got a strong performance from right-handed starter William Lawrence (1-0) who worked seven shutout innings of two-hit baseball. Reliever Jonathan Carpen added two scoreless innings out of the pen to give the Cougars one win in the four game series. Chi
Ball State freshman starter Justin Warrington (Granville, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) gave the Cardinals a strong start as he worked five scoreless innings and only allowed three hits in the no decision. Chicago State struck for the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning against BSU reliever Eric Van Matre (Selma, Ind./Purdue).
After a single to lead off the inning, Van Matre had a two-base throwing error on a sacrifice bunt that put runners on second and third. Van Matre was able to induce a ground ball to third base but the CSU runner was able to slide under the tag at home to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead.
Chicago State struck for two more runs in the top of the eighth inning against left-hander Tom Mueller (Westfield, Ind./Westfield). After two quick outs, Austin McDowell singled to left field and Patrick Hernandez reached on a two-base throwing error by the Cardinals' shortstop to put two runners in scoring position. Preston Pires singled through the right side to plate both runners and raise the Cougars' lead to 3-0.
Ball State tried to battle back in the bottom of the eighth inning as senior second baseman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) reached base with a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Fields was stranded on second base though as Carpen was able to induce three fly balls. The Cardinals made one final push in the top of the ninth inning as junior right fielder Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) reached on a one out double but the Cardinals were unable to bring him home.
Van Matre (0-1) picks up the loss as he allowed one unearned run on one hit in an inning or work. Mueller was charged with two unearned runs as he allowed two hits. Junior Aaron Hammons (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) struck out all three of the batters he faced in an inning of work.
Ball State will return to action Tuesday night as it travels to South Bend, Ind., for a midweek meeting with regional power Notre Dame at Frank Eck Stadium.
####
