Schedule
Hillsdale College (22-23, 17-11 G-MAC) at Ashland (32-14, 21-7 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Friday, May 5 | Tomassi Stadium – Ashland, Ohio
Hillsdale College (22-23, 17-11 G-MAC) at Ashland (32-14, 21-7 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Friday, May 5 | Tomassi Stadium – Ashland, Ohio
Hillsdale College (22-23, 17-11 G-MAC) at Ashland (32-14, 21-7 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, May 6 | Tomassi Stadium – Ashland, Ohio
Hillsdale College (22-23, 17-11 G-MAC) at Ashland (32-14, 21-7 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, May 6 | Tomassi Stadium – Ashland, Ohio
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Ashland Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Ashland Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
Preview
A series win over Malone last season ensured that the Hillsdale College baseball team will be returning to the G-MAC Tournament after missing it in 2022. At 17-11, the Chargers can't finish worse than seventh in the final G-MAC regular season standings.
But as the Chargers prepare for a tough road test against G-MAC title contender Ashland this weekend, there's still plenty to play for, as Hillsdale can finish as high as second in the G-MAC North Division and grab the third seed in the upcoming tournament with a sweep of the Eagles, and each win dramatically improves their chances of a higher seed.
It won't be easy against an Ashland team that's trailed only Northwood in the standings this season, and has the best batting average (.332) and second-best ERA (4.52) of any team in the G-MAC. The Eagles are looking for a solid finish to ensure their spot in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Tournament as either the G-MAC Tournament champion or an at-large.
Offensively, Ashland boasts a balanced lineup with no holes – all nine regular starters are batting over .300 and have at least 20 RBIs on the season. Sophomore Ben Peltz (.338, 14 doubles, five home runs, 39 RBIs) and freshman Colin Overholt (.328, 11 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBIs) supply consistent extra base power, while sophomore Sam Witt leads the team in RBIs with 40 and freshman Chris Franks has the team's top batting average (.386) and OBP (.466).
On the mound, the Eagles are equally formidable. Ace Brendan Beaver is one of the top starters in the G-Mac, with a 1.78 ERA, a 6-1 record, and 79 strikeouts to 15 walks. Fellow regular starters Josh Meyer and Cam Scott both have ERAs under 3. If Ashland does have a weakness, it's that it lacks true shut-down arms out of the bullpen – closer Zac Common has three saves and a 6-2 record in 19 appearances, but a 6.35 ERA, and only one of the Eagles' regularly deployed bullpen arms – Drew Becker – has an ERA under 4.
Hillsdale's offense started slowly but has heated up as conference play has worn on, and the Chargers now look like one of the more dangerous teams in the G-MAC. Against G-MAC foes, four lineup regulars are hitting above .340 for Hillsdale, led by breakthrough sophomore Will Shannon, who's hitting .381 with 17 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs, and red-hot junior outfielder Joe Hardenbergh, who's batting .381 with nine doubles, 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in conference play.
Hardenbergh is one of three active Hillsdale players who are among the five in Chargers history with over 30 home runs, joining Jeff Landis, who is hitting .394 with seven home runs in 18 conference games this year after returning from injury, and Aidan Brewer, who's hitting .315 with nine home runs and a team-high 31 RBIs in conference play. Junior outfielder Danny Passinault has also been a top performer, hitting .344 with 12 doubles in the G-MAC.
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. Fellow junior Daly Skees has impressed in four G-MAC starts and looks to have locked down a starting position as well for Hillsdale.
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, in 2022 to head an experienced bullpen staff. Barnhart looks like one of the best relief pitchers in the G-MAC so far, earning four wins and six saves in 16 appearances with a 1.80 ERA, and 57 strikeouts to 10 walks.