Game 1 box score - Hillsdale 2, Walsh 1
Game 2 box score - Hillsdale 2, Walsh 0
Game 3 box score - Hillsdale 3, Walsh 1
May 5, 2013 - The 2013 season ended on the highest of notes for the Hillsdale College baseball team.
Senior Kris Morris pitched eight strong innings, and sophomore Dan Pochmara got his sixth save of the season as the Chargers finished off a three-game sweep of Walsh University, 3-1 Sunday afternoon in Canton, Ohio.
Hillsdale's season ends with an overall record of 20-25, and 13-18 in the GLIAC. This is the first time since 2005 the Chargers have won 20 games in a season, and won 13 conference games in a season.
Morris, the team's rock-steady ace on the mound, made the final start of his career a memorable one, going eight innings with two strikeouts, one walk and seven hits allowed. He also extended his single-season record for innings pitched to 95, which is 11 more than the old record. His work ethic and perseverence have set a great example for a very young team.
Morris was lifted from the game after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth, setting the stage for Pochmara to shut the door for his sixth save, one shy of Morris' single-season record. As it is Pochmara extended his career record for saves to 11.
Walsh took a 1-0 lead in the second, but the Charger sscratched out runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take the lead.
Two more proud seniors, playing in their final games, figured prominently in the scoring for Hillsdale. Mike Vanchieri's fifth-inning single scored senior Scott Lantis, who reached on an error, tying the game 1-1.
Lantis drove in the game-winning run in the final game of his career, on a sacrifice fly that scored freshman Luke Ortel in the top of the sixth. Freshman Lincoln Reed scored on an error in the seventh to give Hillsdale the crucial two-run lead.
Vanchieri, Reed and senior Scott Rhodes each had two hits in Sunday's win for Hillsdale.
2005 was also the last time the Chargers finished the season winning as many as four in a row.
SATURDAY RECAP
May 4, 2013 - The Hillsdale College baseball team got two of its finest pitching performances of the entire season within one doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Lucas Hamelink and sophomore Shane Armstrong combined to allow just one run in a combined 14 innings of work as the Chargers swept Walsh University 2-1 and 2-0 in a GLIAC twinbill in Canton, Ohio. The two teams will meet again for a single, nine-inning game starting at noon Sunday at Walsh.
Hillsdale is now 19-25 overall and 12-18 in the GLIAC.
Hamelink gained quite a bit of notoriety with his first win of his rookie season, which came over #3 ranked University of Tampa. He bookended that win with another impressive outing Saturday, as he allowed just one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He yielded just one hit after the fourth inning while picking up his fourth win of the season.
Freshman Connor Bartlett provided all the offense Hamelink would need, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for the Chargers. His fielder's choice grounder allowed senior Mike Vanchieri to score in the fourth, tyiing the game at 1-1. He then singled home freshman Zak Northrup with the game-winning run in the sixth. Northrup led off the inning with a single, then stole second, putting him in prime scoring position.
Armstrong picked up his second complete-game shutout of the season in game two, allowing five hits while walking just one with three strikeouts. His control is what allowed him to be dominant en route to his fifth win of the season.
The Chargers got on the board early in game two, when freshman Lincoln Reed singled home Northrup to put Hillsdale on top 1-0. The team picked up an insurance run in the sixth when freshman Luke Ortel scored on a fielder's choice by Bartlett. Vanchieri's double helped Ortel move from first to third, setting up the run.