Game 1 box score: Hillsdale 6, Walsh 4
Game 2 box score: Walsh 7, Hillsdale 2
Postseason spot secured.
The Hillsdale College baseball team punched its Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament ticket with a 6-4 win over Walsh University Saturday afternoon in North Canton, Ohio. The Cavaliers came back to post a 7-2 win in the second game of their doubleheader. The teams will wrap up their three-game weekend series at noon Sunday.
Game one was a good, old fashioned comeback victory for Hillsdale, who trailed Walsh 4-1 entering the fifth inning. The Chargers scored twice in the fifth, two more times in the seventh and once in the eighth to vault into the lead.
Jake Hoover got the rally started with a two-run home run to left field in the fifth to make it a 4-3 deficit. Dylan Lottinville put Hillsdale in front with a two-run double in the seventh, scoring Colin Hites and Steven Ring. Christian Rodino added on a quality insurance run in the eighth when he scored off a throwing error.
Senior Will Kruse got the win, his fifth of the season, going six innings with four strikeouts. Sophomore Kolton Rominski was excellent in relief, tossing two innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Freshman David Toth recorded his ninth save of the season in the win.
Hites was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Hoover brought home three as part of a 2-for-5 game at the plate.
The Cavaliers broke open a 1-1 game with a five-run fourth inning. Walsh outhit Hillsdale 14-7 in the nightcap.
Hoover and Lottinville each drove in runs in game two. Lottinville was 3-for-4 in the game, and Hoover was 2-for-4.
SUNDAY RECAP
Box Score: Walsh 8, Hillsdale 5
The Chargers lost their regular season finale Sunday, 8-5 at Walsh. Although the team lost this game, there's more yet to play.
The Cavaliers scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to come back from a 5-4 deficit to post the win and the series win.
Outfielder Jake Rhodes was 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a run batted in. Dante Toppi and Ryan O'Hearn also had two-hit games and drove in a run apiece. Sawyer Allen recorded a career-high four strikeouts in a relief appearance.