Game 1 box score: Hillsdale 14, Lake Erie 1
Game 2 box score: Lake Erie 6, Hillsdale 1
Two very different baseball games unfolded between Hillsdale College and Lake Erie College on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Painesville, Ohio.
A grand slam home run by sophomore James Krick keyed a 14-1 Hillsdale win in Saturday's opener. The Storm bounced back, taking an early lead and going on to a 6-1 win over the Chargers in the nightcap.
Hillsdale is now 10-18 overall and 6-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference entering play Sunday, when the teams will wrap up their series.
Game one was a giddy, offensive explosion as Hillsdale pushed 14 runs across home plate for the second consecutive game. Junior shortstop Jake Hoover achieved a rare stat, scoring five runs in one game. He drew two walks and singled and tripled, providing ideal production from the leadoff spot.
Krick drove in a career-high five runs, four coming on his grand slam in the top of the sixth inning. His shot increased Hillsdale's lead to 11-1, building on what was already an impressive performance by the Chargers.
Dane Toppi smacked a solo home run, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Colin Boerst was terrific, also hitting a home run as part of a 2-for-4 day with three runs scored and three runs batted in. Rob Zurawski had a double as part of a 2-for-5 game.
Not to be lost in all this offense was the terrific pitching provided by Jonathan Lapshan, who went all nine innings with just five hits, one run and two walks allowed. He threw 50 strikes in a nifty 85-pitch performance, and was wonderfully efficient for Hillsdale.
In game two, Lake Erie outhit Hillsdale 8-4 and led 5-0 after two innings.
Michael Mitchell drove in the team's only run of the game, and Hoover was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Krick had a hit and Jacob DePillo was 2-for-3 in the loss. Austin Mora and Caleb Biedenharn combined to throw four innings in relief of starter Andrew Verbrugge.
PHOTO: Todd Lancaster