March 15 box scores
March 15 recap
The Charger baseball team was able to end a tough trip to Florida on a positive note, defeating Lock Haven University 16-5 Saturday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla. In the first game of the team's last day down south, Hillsdale lost a wild 10-9 game to Mansfield.
Hillsdale comes back north with a 2-12 overall record. The Chargers will open GLIAC play at 11 a.m. Thursday versus Grand Valley State at Davenport University in Grand Rapids.
Through much of its stay in Florida, Hillsdale has struggled with its hitting, rarely scoring more than 3 runs in any game. Producing runs was the last problem the team had on Saturday, as the bats heated up throughout the lineup.
Against Mansfield, freshman Ethan Wiskur went 2-for-5 with 3 RBI, including a two-run double in the first inning that helped spark the Chargers to a 4-0 lead. However, Mansfield struck back for seven runs in the bottom of the first, taking the lead for good.
Mansfield's lead grew to as big as 10-4 after three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. However, relief pitcher Matthew Reck shut the door, tossing 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
Hillsdale pounded out four runs in the top of the fifth and one more in the sixth, but was unable to get any closer from there. Both teams left eight runners on base in the game.
Sophomores Tad Sobieszczanski and Chris McDonald each had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI in the ballgame. Catcher Sean Bennett and shortstop Vinny Delicata each drove in two runs.
In the Florida finale against Lock Haven, Hillsdale pushed three runs across in the bottom of the third, fell behind 5-3 in the fourth, but answered in impressive fashion with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hillsdale scored eight times on seven hits, putting an emphatic end to its trip.
The Chargers had 20 hits against Lock Haven, with 17 of them being singles. Sophomore Luke Ortel had a triple with 2 RBI, while Wiskur and Delicata each had doubles. Wiskur had three hits in the win, while Connor Bartlett went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI. Seven different players had two or more runs batted in for Hillsdale.
Freshman pitcher Jake Lee picked up his first collegiate victory, tossing eight innings on the hill.