Schedule
Malone (17-29, 8-20 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-25, 11-17 G-MAC) | 11 a.m. ET Friday, May 6 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, MI
Malone (17-29, 8-20 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-25, 11-17 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. ET Friday, May 6 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, MI
Malone (17-29, 8-20 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-25, 11-17 G-MAC) | 11 a.m. ET Saturday, May 7 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, MI
Malone (17-29, 8-20 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-25, 11-17 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. ET Saturday, May 7 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, MI
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Malone Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Malone Stats | Live Stats | Video
Preview
Hillsdale heads into the final weekend of the regular season still with a chance at clinching a bid to the G-MAC Tourney, though it needs a very specific set of circumstances in series across the G-MAC this weekend to make that happen.
Any scenario that sees the Chargers make the G-MAC tourney, however, requires at minimum a sweep of visiting Malone to put Hillsdale in position, so Hillsdale will begin its playoff run early, with every game this weekend counting toward its postseason hopes.
The Chargers are also honoring five seniors who are graduating and also playing in their final home games at Simpson Field this weekend – Marc Bergeron, James Krick, Cooper Peterson, Steven Strachan III, and David Toth.
Malone comes to town looking for a positive end to the season after a rough run in G-MAC play. The Pioneers were solid in the nonconference, going 9-9, but have struggled to find wins in the G-MAC.
Generating consistent offense has been a problem for Malone, which ranks ninth in the G-MAC in batting average in conference games and 10th in runs scored. Redshirt freshman catcher/outfielder Cameron Martin has been carrying a heavy load offensively for the Pioneers, hitting .281 and leading Malone in extra-base hits (21), triples (4), home runs (5) and RBIs (41), and junior infielder Tyson Gingerich leads the team in batting average with .337 and 19 RBIs as well. Freshman outfielder JT Tonelli leads the Pioneers in on-base percentage with .428.
While Malone's offense has been sub-par this season, its pitching staff has been one of the best in the G-MAC, with the second-best ERA (4.96) of any team in conference play. The Pioneers have used a variety of different starting pitchers this season, led by sophomore Michael Cook, who has a team-best 4-2 record and a 3.66 ERA. Mitch Maurer, Danny Miler, Cooper Davis, Chase Jessee, Bryce Layton and Nate Planck have all started multiple games in conference play for Malone, who will have a variety of options to throw against the Chargers this weekend. Many of those starters also double as potential relievers for the Pioneers, who also have freshmen Tyler Jackson and Eric Baum to call on in the bullpen.
Hillsdale has been solid offensively on the year despite tough competition to date, hitting .300 as a team, led by sophomore shortstop Aidan Brewer, who's having a special year. The Dexter, Michigan native's current batting average of .433 would rank sixth all-time for a single season in Hillsdale history, and his slugging percentage of .737 would rank seventh. Brewer's 74 hits so far are the fourth-most in a single season at Hillsdale, and he's third for a single season in doubles (17) and tied for 10th home runs (11) and RBIs (48). Brewer will be a candidate for both conference and national honors when the season ends.
Other standout hitters for the Chargers include sophomore first baseman Jeff Landis, who's batting .294 with 18 extra-base hits and 37 RBIs as well, and sophomore outfielder Danny Passinault, who's hitting .324 with 13 extra-base hits and 27 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Joe Hardenbergh has seven home runs and 29 RBIs as well, while senior designated hitter James Crick is hitting .385 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in just 65 at bats as well for the Chargers.
On the mound, Hillsdale returned just one career start this season among healthy pitchers at the beginning of 2022, but have found a quality starter in junior Will Gifford, who's 5-4 in 11 starts with 63 strikeouts to 24 walks and a 4.45 ERA. Sophomore Paul Brophy, who became the first pitcher this season to shut out Trevecca Nazarene and has 41 strikeouts in 10 starts, and redshirt freshman Tommy MacLean, who's 2-2 in 11 starts with 44 strikeouts as well, are showing promise.
Sophomore Drew Olssen returned from injury a few weeks ago and locked down the final starting job with a strong outing against Lake Erie on April 17, going six innings with two strikeouts and just four runs conceded. In the bullpen, sophomore Zane Barnhart has pitched well for Hillsdale with a 2.45 ERA and four saves so far, as has fellow sophomore Brenden Pochmara, sophomore Logan Simon, junior Caleb Biedenharn and senior James Krick.
Hillsdale has had recent success against Malone, taking three of four games in a series against the Pioneers last season, with the lone loss coming in a 10-9 extra-inning thriller. Overall, the Chargers are 5-3 against the Pioneers since joining the G-MAC for the 2018 season.