Schedule
Lake Erie (4-25, 3-11 G-MAC at Hillsdale College (13-18, 8-8 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, April 15 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Lake Erie (4-25, 3-11 G-MAC at Hillsdale College (13-18, 8-8 G-MAC) | 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, April 15 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Lake Erie (4-25, 3-11 G-MAC at Hillsdale College (13-18, 8-8 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 18 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Lake Erie (4-25, 3-11 G-MAC at Hillsdale College (13-18, 8-8 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 18 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale College (13-18, 8-8 G-MAC) at Saginaw Valley State (20-9, 8-5 GLIAC) | 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 19 | GVSU Baseball Field – Allendale, Michigan
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Lake Erie Roster | SVSU Roster | GVSU Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Lake Erie Stats | SVSU Stats | GVSU Roster | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
Preview
A tough weekend against two excellent opponents saw Hillsdale hand G-MAC leader Northwood its first conference loss and go toe-to-toe offensively with NCAA DI Central Michigan, but finish the stretch 1-4. The Chargers now host Lake Erie this weekend with a chance to put themselves in excellent position to make the G-MAC Tournament after missing the event in 2021, while also traveling for two more midweek contests.
The last place team in the G-MAC a year ago, Lake Erie has struggled to a 4-25 record, but three of its wins have come in G-MAC play, making them a potentially dangerous opponent. The top hitters in the Storm's lineup have an international flavor, as the team's best hitter at .286 and with a team-high 16 RBIs, Israel Espinosa, is from Mexico City, and the closest behind him, Zimba Cadiz, hitting .271 with 14 RBIs, is from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Overall, however, the Storm's bats have had a tough year, hitting just .207 overall, the worst mark in the G-MAC. Pitching has also been a tough go for Lake Erie, with a league-worst 7.86 ERA.
The Storm have four regular weekend starters -- senior Zach Saffell, who is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA, freshman Jake Vasil, who is 0-6 with a 9.10 ERA, sophomore Robert Helt, who has an 0-4 record and 8.07 ERA this season, and freshman Dominic Poltrone, who has a 7.16 ERA and a 2.3 record in 2023, at their disposal. Senior Jon Poppy, freshman Cooper Moran and junior Jacob White all have at least one start this season as well. In terms of bullpen, freshman Landen Vance is the team's closer with a team-best 2.31 ERA in eight appearances, and Ricky Telesz and Ethan Hendrickson are also solid options.
After that series, which is split between Saturday and Tuesday due to weather concerns, Hillsdale plays a midweek contest against Grand Valley State on Wednesday to complete a home-and-home series that was also altered due to the weather earlier in April. GVSU won the first meeting at Hillsdale, 11-3, on March 21.
Coming off a 30-win season a year ago, GVSU is off to an impressive 14-6 start. Three of its six losses came to undefeated UIndy, and the Lakers cleaned up in the RussMatt Invitational down in Florida, going 9-1 in the week-long event.
GVSU returns two of its biggest bats in NCBWA Preseason All-Region honorees and outfielders Nate Logan and Spencer Nelson, and that pair have been reinforced by freshman infielder Ayden VanEnkevort, who's hitting .273 with 18 RBIs. Sophomore Jonas Gulbrandsen, a third baseman, has been GVSU's best all-around hitter so far, batting .393 with eight doubles and a team-leading 22 RBIs.
The Lakers' ace is junior Nick Rutkowski, who's 6-1 this season with a 1.37 ERA in seven starts, though the Chargers are unlikely to see him in a mid-week contest. Freshman Mike Morawski has a 1.62 ERA in two starts and three appearances and could get the call for GVSU, with other options including Brendan Pierce, Owen Avery and Ryan Peets. GVSU's top bullpen arms are Sam Leck and Jake Rydquist, who have a combined four saves in 11 appearances.
Hillsdale's offense has been hot and cold at times this season, but when they're hot, the Chargers are as good as anyone. Returning all-Conference outfielder Lewis Beals has a .327 batting average, 12 extra base hits and a team-high 22 RBIs, while sophomore Will Shannon has emerged as a force in his first full season as a starter, leading Hillsdale in batting average at .350 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBIs. Junior Joe Hardenbergh also is swinging a heavy bat entering the weekend, hitting .295 with a team-leading nine home runs and 21 RBIs as well for the Chargers.
That's not even mentioning Hillsdale's returning All-American shortstop, Aidan Brewer, who has 14 RBIs and a team-high 12 stolen bases, or outfielder Danny Passinault, who's hitting .309 and is tied for the team lead with eight doubles.
On the mound, ace Will Gifford returns for the Chargers after going 6-4 with a 4.24 ERA and an impressive 67 strikeouts last season. Gifford was named G-MAC North Division Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 27 for his play in the Wayne St. series. Sophomore Tommy MacLean is a consistent first day starter as well and is off to a solid start for Hillsdale, while junior Paul Brophy also has significant starting experience for the Chargers. Injured starter Drew Olssen pitched solid innings in his first healthy appearance in weeks against Central Michigan and could be a part of the plan over the next week.
In the bullpen, Hillsdale has one of the G-MAC's top closers in Zane Barnhart, who recorded six saves and a team-leading 2.21 ERA while posting 14.16 strikeouts per nine innings, to head an experienced bullpen staff looking to make big improvements from 2022. Barnhart looks like one of the best relief pitchers in the G-MAC so far, earning four wins and three saves in 10 appearances with a 1.50 ERA, and has 42 strikeouts to eight walks.