UAlbany Baseball Tops Chicago State, 6-2
BOX SCORE
CHICAGO – Coming from behind in the closing innings, the University at Albany baseball team picked up a 6-2 win over Chicago State on Saturday evening at Cougars Stadium. With the victory, the Great Danes improved to 2-6 on the season, while the hosting Cougars fell to 4-13 overall.
While Chicago Sate took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, using a pair of singles, a walk, and an RBI fielder's choice, UAlbany took the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Loading the bases as Garrett Longhurst drew a leadoff walk, John Banes singled to left and Alex Lushkevich also walked, Eric Mueller knocked in UAlbany's first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. Banes crossed the plate on a balk, tying the score, and Matt Hinchy doubled to right-center bringing in the go-ahead run.
UAlbany tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth, sparked by Banes' leadoff single to left-center. Will Miller reached on an error and Lushkevich came through with an RBI single to centerfield. Taking advantage of a wild pitch, Miller slid in for the score, and Hinchy, Trevor DeMerritt, and Craig Lepre knocked consecutive singles to make the final score 6-2.
Outhitting the Cougars, 11-6, Banes (2-for-4) and DeMerritt (2-for-5) led the way for UAlbany at the plate with multi-hit efforts.
Defensively, the Danes stranded nine Cougars on base, including three in the bottom of the ninth when Chicago State rallied to load the bases. UAlbany closer Andrew Jaurique worked his way out of the jam to pick up the save.
Jaurique threw the final three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit, while striking out one. Sophomore Stephen Woods (1-2) earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits, while striking out three in six innings of work.
Chicago State's Zach Thomas (0-1) took the loss, throwing 2.2 frames of middle relief. The Cougars used five arms in the game.
The Great Danes close their three-game series with Chicago State Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
