The Hillsdale College baseball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped in close fashion on Saturday, as Davenport took the lead late and held on for a 5-2 victory in Millington, Tennessee.
The Chargers had just three hits in the contest against strong Panthers pitching, but strung two of them together beautifully in the bottom of the fifth to capitalize on a leadoff error that allowed catcher Sean Nemetz to reach first base. Cody Kanclerz hit a triple to score Nemetz and tie the game at one apiece, and then Aidan Brewer gave the Chargers the lead with a single to right field that scored Kanclerz.
For a while, it looked like that score might hold up. Starter Tommy Maclean handed the ball to Hillsdale's bullpen after five solid innings, striking out six, walking one, giving up four hits and conceding just one earned run. Dillon Manion got the Chargers through the sixth but Davenport jumped ahead in the seventh inning on two RBI singles to take a 3-2 lead, then added two more insurance runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead.
Lewis Beals hit a double to lead off the bottom of the eighth and Hillsdale got two on with no outs, but couldn't get either runner across and couldn't get anyone on base in the ninth.
Manion took the loss in relief for the Chargers, and Devin Murray and Nate Waligora also pitched in relief for Hillsdale.
Hillsdale is now 3-2 overall with the loss, and plays Davenport in one more nine inning game on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT to decide the series after Hillsdale won the first game 5-4 on Friday.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan