SUNDAY RECAP
Game 1 box score: Grand Valley State 11, Hillsdale 3
Game 2 box score: Grand Valley State 6, Hillsdale 4
It was a tough weekend in Allendale for the Hillsdale College baseball team.
The Chargers hung tough with Grand Valley State throughout, but went 0-4 in their last four away games of the regular season, dropping both of Sunday's games, by scores of 11-3 and 6-4.
Hillsdale is now 28-18 overall and 16-12 in the GLIAC, and will host Walsh in a four-game series May 7-8.
In Sunday's opener, the Lakers scored runs in bunches, never allowing Hillsdale to sustain any momentum. Senior Tad Sobieszczanski hit his fifth home run of the week and 10th of the season, a two-run shot, to provide most of the offensive fireworks for the Chargers.
In game two, senior Luke Ortel hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth, scoring freshman Colin Boerst, to tighten the score to 6-4. But GVSU was able to finish out the game and the series sweep.
Ortel bounced back from an 0-for-4 game in the opener to go 3-for-5 in game two. He now has 95 total hits on the season, just five shy of the single-season GLIAC record.
Senior Chris McDonald was 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in, and freshman Chris Stewart had a hit and a RBI.
SATURDAY RECAP
Game 1 box score: Grand Valley State 5, Hillsdale 4 (8 inn.)
Game 2 box score: Grand Valley State 7, Hillsdale 4
Playing in cold and windy conditions in Allendale, the Hillsdale College baseball team saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers (28-16 overall, 16-10 GLIAC) dropped both ends of a doubleheader to host Grand Valley State 5-4 and 7-4.
The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday starting at noon.
Because the first game ended in extra innings, GLIAC rules dictated that game two last seven innings instead of the usual nine innings.
A pinch-hit single after a single and sacrifice bunt gave the Lakers the win in the opener. GVSU held a 3-1 lead until the fifth, when senior Tad Sobieszczanski belted his fourth home run in his last three games, a three-run shot, that gave the Chargers a 4-3 lead. But Grand Valley State responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The game remained scoreless thanks to gritty efforts from both starting pitchers.
Sophomore Will Kruse went seven innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, with five strikeouts and no walks allowed in the no-decision.
Sobieszczanski and Alex Walts each had two hits for Hillsdale, while senior Luke Ortel was held hitless for just the second time in 21 games. Ortel did score a run and was hit by pitches twice.
Ortel responded in game two by going 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a run batted in, giving him 92 total hits for the season.
The teams were tied at three after one inning, but once again, pitching took over in a matchup of two strong offensive teams. Colin Hites (pictured) delivered 2.1 innings of shutout ball, but on the other side, Hillsdale's offense stranded nine runners on base.
Walts went 3-for-4 with 2 runs batted in continuing easily his hottest offensive streak of his career. He has an 11-game hitting streak going, during which he's batting .513.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kadie Lowery