Hillsdale College (0-0) at Maryville (0-0) | 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Feb. 27 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (0-0) at Maryville (0-0) | 2 p.m. CT Saturday, Feb. 27 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (0-0) at Maryville (0-0) | 11 a.m. CT Sunday, Feb. 28 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (0-0) at Maryville (0-0) | 2 p.m. CT Sunday, Feb. 28 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO | Video | Live Stats
Preview:
Three-hundred fifty-three days.
That's how long it's been since the Hillsdale College baseball team last took the field for a game.
The Charger baseball squad was the last Hillsdale team to compete at home on March 11, sweeping visiting Wisconsin-Parkside in a doubleheader. Little did anyone at the time know that it would be nearly a year before the next Hillsdale contest.
But now, after the longest lay-off in program history, the Chargers hit the field this weekend to open the 2021 season against host Maryville in St. Louis. Visiting fans will not be allowed for this weekend's contests, but live stats and live video are available at the links above.
The two squads are playing a four-game series, with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday. The Saints were 6-11 in the abbreviated 2020 season, with an 0-4 record against Davenport and a 1-2 record against McKendree, both common opponents with Hillsdale. The Chargers went 0-3 against Davenport and 1-2 against McKendree as well.
Maryville struggled at the plate in 2020 but return some of their best hitters, led by fifth-year senior Austin Tapella (.259, 5 doubles, 10 RBIs). On the mound, the Saints are experienced and will lean on returning starters Ryan Louck, a junior lefthander (2-2, 2.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) and senior righthanded Kaleb Huxford (1-2, 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP).
Hillsdale went 5-9 in 2020, but there were signs the team was turning the corner offensively before the season ended abruptly, as the Chargers scored 23 runs in that final sweep of Parkside on March 11.
Second-year outfielder Joe Hardenbergh (.400, 5 doubles, 2 home runs) and fifth-year infielder Rob Zurawski (.365, 5 doubles, 2 home runs) led the Chargers at the plate in 2020 and Hillsdale should be even better this year with a strong incoming class that includes Eastern Michigan transfer Lewis Beals that will bolster the team's attack.
On the mound, the Chargers return every pitcher that started a game for Hillsdale in 2020, led by fifth-year senior and ace Andrew Verbrugge, who's chasing several all-time pitching records for the Chargers in his final year on the mound.
David Toth and Sawyer Allen also return as top-end starters for the Chargers, though Hillsdale will need to find a replacement for graduated senior Josh Stella, who had a 0.77 ERA in six appearances for the Chargers in 2020.