February 23, 2013 - In Thursday's big win over No. 3 Tampa, it was Hillsdale's pitching that was the story. In Saturday's doubleheader against SUNY-Canton, the bats took center stage for the Charger baseball team.
Hillsdale won both ends of the non-league twinbill from the Roos 6-5 and 13-7 in Winter Haven, Fla. The Chargers are now 3-1 on the season.
Sophomore Dan Pochmara, who got the two-inning save against Tampa Thursday, picked up the win in relief in the first game Saturday. He went 3 2/3 innings and held the Roos down long enough for the Chargers to rally from an early 3-0 deficit.
Freshman Luke Ortel scored twice, was hit by a pitch twice and had a double. Freshman Zak Northrup had a single and a double in the first game, and stole a base in both ends of the doubleheader. He also scored the go-ahead run for the Chargers in the first game.
In game two, Hillsdale was blanked in the first inning, then scored runs in each of the next five, tallying three runs in four different innings. Freshman Geordy Smith made his first collegiate hit a memorable one, belting a two-run home run to help ignite Hillsdale's offense. He finished with three runs scored and three RBI.
Senior catcher Brad Hayden drove in two with a double and scored twice. Sophomore Nolan Breymaier scored three runs, and freshman Chris McDonald pitched five innings, picking up his first collegiate win on the mound.
Statistics from the SUNY-Canton games will be available by Monday morning.