Homecoming never felt so good for the Hillsdale College baseball team.
After a a tough month of March, the Chargers got to host their first weekend series in G-MAC play at Simpson Field, and woke up the bats in a big way in a doubleheader sweep of Tiffin to kick off the weekend on Sunday, 12-8 and 9-4.
In the first game, Hillsdale pounded out a season-high 20 hits, including four home runs, to overcome a 7-3 deficit and roll to a 12-8 victory. A solo home run by right-fielder Lewis Beals in the bottom of the first and a two-run shot by Danny Passinault in the bottom of the second had Hillsdale tied 3-3 with Tiffin after two innings, but the Dragons plated four runs in the third and fourth innings to pull ahead.
The Chargers began the comeback in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single by Beals, and designated hitter Nate Waligora brought Hillsdale another run closer in the bottom of the fifth with a RBI double.
The dam broke in the seventh as the Chargers scored six runs to turn a deficit into a game-winning lead. Joe Hardenbergh hit a solo home run and Waligora added a two-run blast for the Chargers in the inning, while Jaekob Sallee hit a RBI triple and Cody Kanclerz added a two-run single as well.
Waligora capped off Hillsdale's scoring in the bottom of the eighth with his second home run and third extra base hit of the game, a shot to left center to put Hillsdale up 12-7. Tiffin cut the deficit to 12-8 in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases with one out, but closer Zane Barnhart recorded the final two outs for the Chargers for his third save of the season.
Dillon Manion earned the win in relief of starter Tommy MacLean for the Chargers, giving up just one unearned run in five and a third innings of work, with three strikeouts and three walks. Kolin Endres also pitched in relief for Hillsdale.
Six different Chargers finished with multiple hits in the game, led by Will Shannon and Passinault, who each went 4 for 5 at the plate. Aidan Brewer went 3 for 5 as well for Hillsdale, as did Waligora.
The Chargers used another huge inning to pull away in the nightcap, plating five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a lead they would never relinquish in a 9-4 win. Beals once again got the scoring started with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning for the Chargers.
With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Beals led off and got on base after being hit by pitch, and the Chargers bats went to work. Hardenbergh drove in Beals on a double, and Brewer followed that up in the next at bat with a RBI triple to score Hardenbergh. Catcher Sean Nemetz reached on an error to score Brewer, making it 4-1 Chargers, and then Passinault put the capper on with a two-run double to right field to give Hillsdale a 6-1 lead.
The Chargers kept scoring, adding two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Passinault gave Hillsdale a 9-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a second RBI double to right field. Tiffin put pressure on the Chargers late with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh, but pitcher Will Gifford finished a complete game outing with a strikeout to clinch the victory.
Gifford struck out three, walked one and gave up six hits for his fourth win of the season on the mound for the Chargers, while Passinault went 2 for 3 at the plate with those two doubles to lead Hillsdale as well. Joe Hardenbergh added two hits as well for Hillsdale, including a double.
Hillsdale improves to 10-14 overall and to 5-5 in the G-MAC with the victory. The Chargers will look to take the series tomorrow with two more games against the Dragons, beginning with a seven-inning contest at 1 PM.