With his team's backs against the wall, Hillsdale College leftfielder Joe Hardenbergh had a game to remember.
Hardenbergh went 3 for 5 at the plate with three home runs and six RBIs in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader to help the Chargers baseball team take a 14-4 victory and fend off a series sweep at the hands of visiting Cedarville.
The freshman from Northville, Michigan hit a three-run home run to cap a seven-run first inning for the Chargers, then added a solo shot in the third and a two run home run in the fifth to tie a G-MAC record held by multiple players, including former Charger Steven Ring, for most home runs in a game.
Aidan Brewer hit a two run single in the bottom of the first inning and Danny Passinault added a RBI single as well to help set the Chargers up with a lead it would never relinquish.
Jeff Landis added a solo home run, his 13th of the year, in the bottom of the second inning and finished with two hits, along with Brewer and Tyler Harris, as well for Hillsdale.
Andrew Verbrugge earned his fourth win of the year on the mound, going five innings with four strikeouts, two walks and four earned runs. Will Gifford pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Chargers, striking out two, and Marc Bergeron pitched the ninth, striking out one in a scoreless inning.
Hillsdale couldn't overcome a five-run top of the second inning in the first game of the day as Cedarville pulled away for a 15-3 victory. Brewer hit a two-run home run to lead the Charger offense, and Danny Passinault went 3 for 3 with a RBI double as well.
James Krick took the loss on the mound for the Chargers, striking out two and walking two in two and two-thirds innings. Hillsdale used four relievers in the loss, with Paul Brophy pitching the most effectively, going three innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
The 1-3 weekend against Cedarville sets up a big final weekend series for the Chargers (16-20, 12-16 G-MAC) next Friday and Saturday. Hillsdale is clinging to one of the final two spots in the G-MAC Tournament, with both Malone and Findlay looking to overtake the Chargers and knock them out of the postseason. The Oilers come to town for a four-game series beginning on Friday at 1 p.m., and the outcome will likely make or break the Chargers' postseason hopes, in conjunction with Malone's results elsewhere.
Photo by Summer Fields
