Hillsdale junior Zane Barnhart has developed into one of the most feared relievers in the G-MAC for the Chargers baseball team.
It turns out, he's just as good as a starter, too.
Normally Hillsdale's closer, Barnhart took the mound as the starter for the first time in his career last Thursday against Trevecca Nazarene, pitching Hillsdale to its only win of the series and putting together a performance worthy of G-MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Barnhart mowed down a Trojans lineup that had been giving the Chargers fits in the previous three games of the series, striking out seven batters and giving up just four hits in six innings of work. Only a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning by Trevecca kept Barnhart from a shutout effort in his first start, and when the junior handed the ball to coach Tom Vessella, the Chargers had built an unassailable 10-1 lead in a victory.
The junior had been excellent this season in five previous appearances as a closer, posting a 15.68 strikeouts per nine innings mark that ranked among the national leaders at the NCAA DII level while racking up a win and two saves. Including his start on Thursday, Barnhart has a 2.76 ERA and 25 strikeouts to six walks.
While no one expected the level of dominance Barnhart has shown this season so far, the junior certainly didn't come out of nowhere. He was the Chargers' top closer in 2022, recording six saves and earning second team All-G-MAC honors. Still, Barnhart has taken his play to another level this season, dramatically improving both his strikeout rate and his stamina on the mound in 2023.
It remains to be seen whether Barnhart will go back to closing or join the starting rotation full-time this season, but he'll look to continue to build off his strong start to 2023 and help the Chargers during a busy and critical week that includes Hillsdale's home opener on Tuesday against Grand Valley State, and an important four game G-MAC series this weekend at Kentucky Wesleyan.
Photo by Steve George