In a must-win game for the Chargers, the Hillsdale College baseball team scored early and often in a 16-6 victory over Lake Erie on Friday at Simpson Field.
The Chargers had the unusual experience of being the visiting team on their home field on Friday, as Lake Erie was the designated home squad. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Painesville, Ohio, but the lack of a playable field forced the contest to be moved to Hillsdale.
The change in batting order didn't seem to affect the Chargers at all, as Hillsdale jumped out in front early with five runs in the top of the first inning. Jeff Landis and Nick Stepke each hit a two-run single to help get the Chargers out of the gate quickly.
Lake Erie scored three in the bottom of the inning to keep within striking distance, but Hillsdale tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by catcher Jaekob Sallee, the first of his career, and a RBI single by Aidan Brewer, and the Chargers blew the game open with six more runs in the top of the fifth, punctuated by a three-run home run from Lewis Beals, his 14th of the season. James Krick added a RBI single in the inning as well.
Hillsdale finished off its scoring in the contest in the top of the sixth, as third baseman Cody Kanclerz hit a two-run home run for his first bomb of the season, and Stekpe hit another RBI single as well.
Drew Olssen had his longest pitching outing since 2021 to earn his first win of the season, going six innings with two strikeouts, two walks and four earned runs on four hits conceded. Backing up Olssen's quality start was reliever Drew Erdei, who struck out two in two innings of work, as well as reliever Marc Bergeron, who struck out two and finished off the victory in the ninth.
Brewer went 4 for 6 at the plate and chipped in a stolen base to lead the Chargers offensively, Krick and Stepke each added three hits, and Trey Haeger chipped in a double for the Chargers, who improve to 15-21 overall and 8-13 in G-MAC play with the victory.
Hillsdale and Lake Erie made it five innings into the nightcap on Friday before rain forced the game to be suspended with the Chargers holding an 8-5 lead. The game will be resumed on Saturday at noon with Hillsdale up to bat in the top of the sixth. The remaining two games of the series will follow the conclusion of that contest.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop