Game 1 box score: Ohio Dominican 9, Hillsdale 2
Game 2 box score: Ohio Dominican 12, Hillsdale 10
No senior class in the history of Hillsdale College baseball has won as many games as this 2019 senior class. The team's 12 seniors, and their combined 104 career victories, were honored between games of their final doubleheader of the season Sunday afternoon.
The Chargers saw their season conclude with losses of 9-2 and 12-10 to Ohio Dominican University at Simpson Field. Hillsdale ends 2019 with a 21-27 overall record and 15-17 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Many members of the senior class had a moment to shine despite the losses to the Panthers Sunday. One of the best moments came courtesy of senior Chris Stewart, who hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Stewart's hit was a no-doubter, sending his teammates into a fun home-plate celebration.
Also in the eighth inning, the program's all-time best power hitter got to take an appropriate curtain call. Senior Steven Ring hit two home runs in the second game, the second one easily clearing the team's hitting barn way beyond the left field fence. Those home runs were his 17th and 18th of the season, breaking his own single-season record of 17, set back in 2017.
Ring's final career totals add up to a record 53 home runs and 191 runs batted in, leaving the old records in the far distance. He had a .771 slugging percentage in 2018 and his career slugging percentage of .638 would be hard for any player at any level of baseball to match over a four-year period.
Colin Boerst also played the final game of his terrific career Sunday afternoon, and he went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one batted in with a solo home run. Seniors Christian Rodino, Dylan Lottinville, Michael Mitchell, Kevin Monson and Josh leymaster all picked up at least one hit apiece in their final performance in a Charger uniform.
Junior Jake Hoover, who figures to be a centerpiece of next year's team, was 2-for-5 with a run batted in. Freshman Cody Kanclerz looked strong in a relief pitching appearance, tossing 2.1 innings with 3 strikeouts and no walks or runs allowed.
PHOTO: Todd Lancaster