The Hillsdale College baseball team has put up impressive offensive numbers this season, but on Sunday the Chargers just couldn't find the same rhythm in a doubleheader against visiting Kentucky Wesleyan.
Hillsdale needed big outings to keep up with a Panthers offense that totaled 24 runs and 27 hits in the doubleheader, but despite moments of brilliance, the Chargers string enough hits together to get a rally going in 14-1 and 10-4 losses.
In the first game, Kentucky Wesleyan seized control early with a grand slam in the top of the first inning that left Hillsdale playing from behind. The Chargers got a run back in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Jeff Landis, but KWC plated six runs in the top of the fourth inning to answer and pull away for good in a 14-1 final.
Aidan Brewer went 2 for 3 with a double to lead Hillsdale at the plate in the loss, and Paul Brophy (2-6) took the loss on the mound, striking out seven and walking two in three and two-thirds innings of work. Chad Stevens, Kolin Endres and David Toth all pitched in relief for Hillsdale as well.
The Chargers started the second game promisingly, as leadoff hitter Cody Kanclerz led off the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give Hillsdale its first lead of the weekend. From that point on, however, the Panthers seized control, scoring the next 10 runs to take a 10-1 advantage. The Chargers tried to fight back in the game, as Kanclerz added another home run that scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and Jeff Landis chipped in a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth as well, but it wasn't enough to catch up to KWC's fast start.
Kanclerz had a strong game at the plate, going 4 for 4 with the two home runs to lead the Chargers in the first multi-home run game of his career, and Aidan Brewer went 2 for 5 with two doubles as well for Hillsdale, but the Chargers finished with just three more hits outside of those two players in the loss.
Drew Olssen took the loss for Hillsdale, going three and a third innings and striking out one and walking two, and Brendan Pochmara pitched three and two-thirds innings of relief as well. Zane Barnhart closed out the game for the Chargers, striking out four of the seven batters he faced in two innings of work and giving up no walks and just one hit.
The Chargers fall to 19-25 overall, and 11-17 in G-MAC play. Despite the sweep at the hands of the Panthers, Hillsdale still has a chance to make the G-MAC Tournament, but it will need both Findlay and Walsh to lose all four games next weekend in the final series of G-MAC play, and the Chargers will have to win all four games against Malone in their regular season finale. Hillsdale hosts the Pioneers next week for four contests, including senior day on Friday, where the Chargers will celebrate seniors James Krick, David Toth, Cooper Peterson, Steven Strachan III and Marc Bergeron.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan