The Hillsdale College baseball team snapped a six game losing streak by taking the second half of a Sunday doubleheader hosted by Tiffin.
The Chargers opened the day with an 8-1 loss in the first game, and trailed 3-2 through four complete innings in the nightcap, with the specter of a sweep at the hands of the Dragons looming.
But Hillsdale rallied, taking the lead on a two-run home run by Cooper Peterson in the top of the fifth inning, then tacking on two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run bomb by Cody Kanclerz.
The Chargers tacked on three more insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a RBI single by Jeff Landis and a two-run single by Danny Passinault to pull away for a 9-5 victory.
Passinault finished the game 4 for 5 at the plate to lead the Chargers, including a solo home run in the top of the second that gave Hillsdale a brief 1-0 edge, as well as a double. Landis went 2 for 5 with a RBI double in the top of the third inning as well, and Kanclerz and Rob Zurawski each chipped in two hits.
Andrew Verbrugge picked up the win for the Chargers to improve to 3-2 on the year, going eight solid innings with six strikeouts and four walks and conceding just three earned runs. Logan Simon pitched an inning of relief as well, striking out one of the four batters he faced.
In the first game, Hillsdale fell behind 6-0 in the first two innings and never got on track offensively, finishing with just three hits.
Zurawski scored the Chargers' only run on a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, and Peterson and Jaekob Sallee each chipped in a hit as well. James Crick (1-3) took the loss for the Chargers, striking out three and walking three in an inning and two-thirds of work, and Sawyer Allen pitched three and a third innings of relief as well. Zane Barnhart finished the game by striking out the side in the sixth inning for Hillsdale.
The Chargers are now 15-17 overall and 11-13 in G-MAC play. Hillsdale is still in relatively strong position to make the conference tournament, sitting in seventh place after today's action, but will need a decent showing at home against Cedarville in doubleheaders next Friday and Saturday to keep from coming under pressure from Malone for the eighth and final spot in the postseason entering the final week of the regular season.
Photo by Summer Fields