MONDAY RECAP
Game 4 box score: WSU 14, HC 3
The Hillsdale College baseball team dropped both ends of Monday's GLIAC doubleheader to Wayne State by scores of 5-3 and 14-3, completing a split in the four-game series between the teams at Hillsdale's Simpson Field.
The Chargers are now 8-16 overall and 3-5 in the GLIAC, and head up to Midland Friday and Saturday for a four-game set with Northwood.
Two of Wayne State's five runs in the first game were unearned, as the Warriors were able to build a 5-0 lead and hold off a late rally by Hillsdale. The Chargers scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tighten the game up, but could not get a hit in either of the two final innings of the opener.
Nolan Breymaier and Connor Bartlett each had a hit and a run batted in during game 1 for the Chargers. Will Kruse took the loss, while junior Jacob Gardner struck out five batters in 3 1/3 innings of relief work.
In game two, Wayne State had full control from start to finish, scoring two runs in the first, third and fourth innings to build a big early lead. Hillsdale committed five errors in the nightcap, resulting in seven unearned runs for the Warriors.
Freshmen Alex Walts and Ryan O'Hearn each notched two hits in the second game for Hillsdale.
SUNDAY RECAP
Game 1 box score: HC 13, WSU 4
On a surreal Sunday afternoon that featured a mix of sun, sleet and snow, the Hillsdale College baseball team pulled off a doubleheader sweep of Wayne State University by scores of 13-4 and 9-8. The wins bring the Chargers back to .500 in the GLIAC (3-3) and improve the team to 8-14 overall.
The second game was played in a wide range of weather, though the one consistent aspect was the cold. The temperature never got above 36 on this day, and high winds, cloud cover and a mix of sleet and snow made for difficult conditions on all of the players and fans. But those wearing Charger blue got warmed up in a hurry thanks to the heroics of junior Tad Sobieszczanski (pictured).
"Sobie" had gone 0-for-4 in the nightcap before looping a high-arcing single to shalow right-center field with two outs in the ninth inning. His hit helped junior Connor Bartlett motor around from second base to score the game-winning run.
The nightcap lasted more than three hours and featured 17 total runs and 30 total hits between the two teams. The Warriors held a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the fourth when the Chargers began to chip away.
Hillsdale plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run home run by junior Chris McDonald, to pull into an 8-5 lead. But Wayne State answered back quickly, scoring twice in the eighth and once in the ninth to knot it up at 8 apiece.
Catcher Sean Bennett had a big game, both offensively and defensively for Hillsdale. He went 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBI and a run scored. But he delivered perhaps the game's biggest play when he retrieved a third strike in the dirt with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning. He scooped up the ball and delivered a great throw to McDonald at first, getting the force out to end the inning and a major Warrior scoring threat.
McDonald scored three runs and was 3f-ro-5 with 2 RBI, while junior Michael O'Sullivan was 2-for-4 for the Chargers.
Hillsdale's bats were red hot in the opener, as eight different players each had hits in the 13-4 victory. Bartlett drove in three runs, while McDonald, Eric Shankin and Nolan Breymaier each had two hits.
Senior Shane Armstrong turned in an excellent outing on the mound, picking up the win with 5 innings pitched, 3 strikeouts and just 1 walk and 1 earned run allowed.
Photo by Jenny Bals