Hillsdale College (9-7, 5-3 G-MAC) at Malone (7-8, 2-6 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. Saturday, March 27 | Thurman Munson Stadium – Canton, Ohio | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (9-7, 5-3 G-MAC) at Malone (7-8, 2-6 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. Saturday, March 27 | Thurman Munson Stadium – Canton, Ohio | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (9-7, 5-3 G-MAC) at Malone (7-8, 2-6 G-MAC) | 12 p.m. Sunday, March 28 | Thurman Munson Stadium – Canton, Ohio | Video | Live Stats
Hillsdale College (9-7, 5-3 G-MAC) at Malone (7-8, 2-6 G-MAC) | 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 28 | Thurman Munson Stadium – Canton, Ohio | Video | Live Stats
Preview
Hillsdale took three of four over Ohio Valley in West Virginia last weekend to improve to 5-3 in the G-MAC and move into a three-way tie for third place in the league. The Chargers have another chance to solidify their place near the top of the G-MAC standings with a series in Canton, Ohio against Malone this weekend.
The Pioneers were 7-2 through nine games but have lost six straight, all in conference play, and need to get back on track to solidify their place in the top eight of the G-MAC standings and clinch a conference tournament bid.
At the plate, freshman outfielder Jake Aleman is leading the team with a .348 average and .466 OBP, while sophomore first baseman Evan Balzano has produced at a high level when he's been able to make contact – hitting just .162 but turning four of his six hits into doubles and a team-leading nine RBIs.
On the mound, Malone returns senior Eric Mullet, one of the G-MAC's best, who struck out 10 and walked one in his only appearance so far this season. Fellow senior Clay Cooper has been the best of the Pioneers' consistent starters do far, with a 2-0 record, a 2.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts in three starts. The team's most effective reliever so far is senior James Kontur, who's posted a 2.08 ERA and recorded a save in three appearances to date.
Hillsdale continues to be one of the top power teams in the conference offensively. The Chargers have two of the three players in the G-MAC with five or more home runs – sophomores Aidan Brewer and Jeff Landis, and Landis leads the entire conference with eight, including three grand slams. Sophomore Nick Stepke is hitting .325 as well for the Chargers, and senior Rob Zurawski has chipped in two home runs as well.
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.
Close behind is junior David Toth, who threw the program's first no-hitter in at least 23 years against Maryville on the first day of the season, while sophomore Will Gifford has been impactful as a reliever, winning two games and adding another save in four appearances this season.