It was a tough day for the Chargers on Sunday in Rolla, Missouri, as the Hillsdale College baseball team took the lead in both contests against host Missouri S&T but was unable to hold on in either game of the doubleheader to go 0-2 on the day.
The Chargers got off to a solid start in the early game, falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first but holding the Miners scoreless for the next two innings. Hillsdale took the lead in the top of the fourth, as outfielder Joe Hardenbergh followed up a Will Shannon single to lead off the inning with a double that scored Shannon to tie the game. Four batters later, third baseman Cody Kanclerz hit a double to drive in Hardenbergh and give the Chargers a 2-1 lead.
That advantage wouldn't hold, however, as the Miners scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to move back out in front, and five more in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away in an 11-2 Hillsdale defeat. Four errors and six hit by pitches in the contest were too much for the Chargers to overcome defensively, and Hillsdale just couldn't get the offense on track, finishing with five hits on the game, three of which came in that fourth inning.
Paul Brophy took the loss for the Chargers, pitching four innings, striking out three, walking two and giving up five runs but none earned. Dillon Manion, Nate Waligora and Andrew George also pitched in relief for the Chargers in the loss.
Hillsdale came out in the nightcap with its best effort yet in the series, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning to take an early edge. Hardenbergh drew a bases-loaded walk to start the scoring, Aidan Brewer brought another run home on a sacrifice fly, and Jeff Landis added a two-run double as well.
Missouri S&T closed the gap in the third and fourth innings, scoring three runs, but Hillsdale got an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Danny Passinault scored on a wild pitch, and Lewis Beals added a solo home run in the top of the seventh to give Hillsdale a 6-3 cushion just three outs from victory.
But it wasn't to be for the Chargers, as S&T loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and hit a walk-off grand slam to take a 7-6 win.
Beals went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Chargers offensively in the loss, as Hillsdale turned five hits into six runs in the contest. Zane Barnhart took the loss in relief for the Chargers, while Tommy MacLean had a quality start, pitching six innings with three strikeouts, four walks and two earned runs conceded in a no decision.
Hillsdale falls to 5-7 on the year with the two losses and will get one more opportunity against Missouri S&T in a single game at 2 PM ET on Monday, looking to snap a five game losing streak and head into an off-week with positive momentum.
Photo by Steve George