An early 2-0 lead, thanks to another home run by Steven Ring, would not be enough for the Hillsdale College baseball team to pick up a non-conference win Tuesday afternoon.
The Chargers lost a 10-3 contest to Wayne State University in Detroit, dropping their record to 18-23 on the season. Hillsdale has another non-conference matchup coming up this week, at Siena Heights Thursday afternoon.
Ring, a junior catcher, launched his 10th home run of the season and 30th of his career, in the top of the first inning to quickly put Hillsdale on top 2-0. Ring now stands just four home runs away from claiming Hillsdale's all-time record for home runs in a career.
The Warriors responded with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. Hillsdale tied the game in the top of the sixth when Jake Hoover scored off a wild pitch. But again, Wayne State responded right away, scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth to get on top 5-3.
A five-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth inning put the game out of reach.
Freshman pitcher Chris Dunn was a bright spot for Hillsdale, starting the game and going five innings while giving up just four hits and one earned run while striking out a career-high six batters. Dunn missed all of the 2017 season with an injury, but his confidence and effectiveness has been gradually growing throughout the season, and he's giving hints of a very bright future on the mound for Hillsdale.
Six different players each had hits in the game for Hillsdale, with Ring's two-run home run the highlight. Colin Hites had a hit and a run scored, while Dante Toppi walked and singled.