SATURDAY RECAP
Junior center fielder Luke Ortel missed a few games earlier this season with an injury. As much as his absence may have been noticed by his teammates on the Hillsdale College baseball team, his presence was significantly felt Saturday afternoon.
In the first game of the Chargers' GLIAC doubleheader with Ohio Dominican, Ortel went 4-for-4 with a run batted in and two runs scored, and made a spectacular diving catch in center as the Chargers edged the Panthers 6-5.
Ohio Dominican came back to post a 7-3 win over Hillsdale in game 2. The two teams square off in another twinbill starting at noon Sunday at Simpson Field.
Ortel is a left-handed batter who has been the Chargers' leadoff man since his arrival two years ago. Among his four hits, he belted two doubles and a triple and was a key part of every inning in which Hillsdale scored in the opener.
After falling behind 2-0, Hillsdale came back with three runs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a bases-loaded double by junior Chris McDonald.
Ortel and Connor Bartlett each stepped up with doubles in the fourth inning, helping Hillsdale to regain the lead a second time. Junior Tad Sobieszczanski added a crucial insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Senior Shane Armstrong picked up his third win on the mound in game 1, while senior Dan Pochmara earned the save.
In game 2, ODU strung some offense together in the middle innings to build up a lead. After senior Vinny Delicata scored on a balk to make the score 2-1 ODU, the Panthers scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings.
Ortel had two more hits in the nightcap, making him 6-for-9 on the day. Bartlett added three more hits in game 2, while junior Michael O'Sullivan, who moved up to the number 2 slot in the order, was 2-for-4 with a run scored.