Game 1 box score - Wayne State 6, Hillsdale 5
Game 2 box score - Wayne State 10, Hillsdale 4
April 13, 2013 - One of the nastiest springs in recent memory somehow took a turn for the worse Saturday afternoon.
The first game of the GLIAC baseball doubleheader between Hillsdale College and Wayne State University was marred by off-and-on snow throughout what turned out to be an intense and well-played game. The Warriors used a leadoff solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to provide the difference in a 6-5 win over the Chargers. Wayne State also took game two, 10-4, to improve to 12-4 in the conference.
The losses dropped the Chargers to 12-18 overall and 5-12 in GLIAC play. The teams will wrap up their three-game weekend series at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The first game featured big hits and clutch defensive plays by both teams. WSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to see Hillsdale rally back into a 5-3 lead, thanks to a five-run third inning. In that inning, four of Hillsdale's five runs came across with two outs, as the team received some badly needed base hits with runners in scoring position.
Senior Mike Vanchieri, who had a big day, got the rally started with a double to right. Connor Bartlett followed with a sacrifice fly, and Geordy Smith, Vinny Delicata and Michael O'Sullivan each strung together singles that pulled Hillsdale into the lead.
However, the Warriors came back, scoring one run in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to squeak out the victory.
Vanchieri had two hits, a walk, a run scored and one run batted in for Hillsdale. Delicata and Sean Bennett each had two-hit games for the Chargers, and Bartlett had an outfield assist, throwing out a runner at home to help get Hillsdale out of a major jam early in the game.
Game two wasn't as dramatic, with the Warriors jumping out to a 9-2 lead through three innings.
Five different players accounted for each of Hillsdale's five hits in the game, with Vanchieri driving home two thanks to a triple that reached the center field fence. Seniors Brad Hayden and Scott Lantis also drove in runs in the game for the Chargers.
Photo by Sheridan Markatos