For many years, Hillsdale College and Albion College had a spirited rivaly across many sports, when both were members of the MIAA. They haven't met as often in the past 50 years, but Tuesday afternoon, the old rivalry was renewed.
Freshman Ethan Wiskur (pictured) had a career day which included a grand-slam home run, helping to lead the Chargers to a 15-5 win over the Britons on a 70-degree day at Simpson Field. Hillsdale is 16-30 overall and will resume GLIAC play Wednesday afternoon at Saginaw Valley State University.
The first inning of the game took 48 minutes as the teams combined for nine runs. Fortunately for the Chargers, six of them went up on the home side of the scoreboard, as the team rebounded quickly from a 3-0 deficit in the first inning.
Hillsdale was able to manufacture runs by drawing 11 walks, but had a couple of big blows to rack up runs that gave the team a big lead. In the first inning, Hillsdale's first two runs came via a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Freshman Jake Lee then followed by smacking a two-run double to give the Chargers the lead for good.
Wiskur hammered his second home run of the season, and first collegiate grand slam, in the second inning. Two walks and an error loaded up the bases for Wiskur's rainbow shot.
Sophomore Tad Sobieszczanski took advantage of another bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning. After Lee and Joe Gentile reached base with hits, Adam Ladzinski drew a walk, setting the table for Sobieszczanski, who sent a long triple to the deepest part of the ballpark. That hit made the score 13-3, and the final result was never in doubt from there.
Junior PJ Cooley got his first pitching win of the season, going five innings on the mound. Colin Gerish was solid in three innings of relief work.
Wiskur was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and five runs batted in to lead the Charger offense. Lee was 2-for-3 and scored three runs, and junior Vinny Delicata drove in two. Gentile also stepped up with two hits and drew two walks in the win.