Schedule
Hillsdale College (3-4) at Maryville (5-3) | 2 p.m. ET Friday, March 1 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO
Hillsdale College (3-4) vs McKendree (3-7) | 4 p.m. ET Friday, March 1 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO
Hillsdale College (3-4) at Missouri-St. Louis (5-3) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, March 2 | UMSL Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO
Hillsdale College (3-4) at Maryville (5-3) | 1 p.m. ET Sunday, March 3 | Weber Baseball Field – St. Louis, MO
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Maryville Roster | McKendree Roster | UMSL Roster | 2024 Hillsdale Stats | 2024 Maryville Stats | 2024 McKendree Stats | 2024 UMSL Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
Preview
The Hillsdale College baseball team bounced back in a big way in Pennsylvania this past weekend, taking two of three from California (PA) and giving up just five runs in the series to the Vulcans. That leads the Chargers into a big weekend that includes four contests against three regional foes in St. Louis from March 1-3.
Entering the third year under head coach Tom Vessella, Hillsdale is coming off a season that saw them post the most conference wins in program history with 20, as well as a top four finish in the G-MAC regular season standings and a G-MAC Tournament appearance and victory.
Hillsdale opens and closes the weekend with games against Maryville. The Saints were an impressive 36-20 and made the NCAA Tournament last season, and are off to a 5-3 start so far in 2024 that includes a split against nationally-ranked Southern Arkansas.
Maryville returns a strong lineup led by 2023 All-American outfielder Michael Gould and All-Region honoree Elias Stevens. Gould hit .443 last season with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs, while Stevens brings impressive power, with 60 hits and 15 home runs last season. Stevens already has three home runs this season, while senior Andy Bunton and junior Camden Ruby are hitting above .400 so far, and sophomore Jack Zebig leads the Saints with 10 RBIs in eight games.
On the mound it's been a little bit more of a mixed bag as Maryville looks to replace two of four starters. Holdover Ben Gregory has three starts with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts, while Jacob Kroeger is 1-0 in three starts with 18 Ks as well. Senior Ben Prywitch, last year's closer for the Saints, has the best ERA of Maryville's starters so far with a 4.00 in two appearances. In the bullpen, Drake Downing returns after earning All-GLVC honors in 2023 and Noah Arras and Ryan Hoshaw have impressed with two wins and two saves combined.
McKendree, Hillsdale's other Friday opponent, is off to a 3-7 start in 2024 after going 18-30 and missing the GLVC Tourney in 2023. The Bearcats return a talented two-way player in Joey Kossina, who tossed hit .391 with a 1.009 OPS while also striking out 35 with a 3-3 record in 12 appearances to earn second-team All-GLVC honors. At the plate, the Bearcats have been balanced offensively, with eight players contributing seven or more RBIs, led by senior Kyle Czarnecki's 13 on six doubles and .341 at the plate. Senior infielder Michael Paule has five home runs in 10 games for McKendree, and Brandon Roth is hitting .375 with a 1.240 OPS as well.
The Bearcats have struggled so far in 2024 with a rebuilt pitching staff, including former bullpen player Keegan McCarty, freshman Trey Cole and JuCo transfer Jorden Eaton as well as Kossina. Nate Arnold and JD Barnes are McKendree's most used relievers, with Arnold recording the Bearcats' only save so far.
UMSL is coming off a 21-29 season that saw them just miss the GLVC Tournament, but look improved early on in a 5-3 start that included a sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan. At the plate, the Tritons are led by junior third baseman Andrew Buescher, who was a second-team All-GLVC honoree in 2023 after hitting .361 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 29 RBIs, and currently leads UMSL in 2024 with 11 RBIs. Junior Dane Stevenson is off to a hot start as well for UMSL, batting .600 in seven games, and JuCo transfer Logan McIntyre is hitting .414 as well.
On the mound, UMSL has inserted two DI transfers into its pitching staff, and both Garrett Brunstetter (Western Kentucky) and RJ Elmore (Grand Canyon) have ERAs under 3 so far this season. Freshman pitcher Dustin Hagens and returning starter Cody Brooks also could take the mound against the Chargers. UMSL's top bullpen arms are Jacob Arndt and Trent Anderson, who have combined for three saves and no runs allowed in four appearances this season.
The Chargers enter 2024 with significant holes to fill in the lineup, but return many of their best hitters from 2023, led by returning All-Region first baseman Will Shannon, who hit .388 with 15 doubles and 13 home runs last season. Hillsdale also returns two of the top three home run hitters in program history in seniors Jeff Landis and Joe Hardenbergh, as well as two additional rock-solid four-year starters in centerfielder Danny Passinault and catcher Jaekob Sallee. Sallee recently earned G-MAC Player of the Week for his performance in the Cal (PA) series.
Nate Waligora and Zak Kent also performed well in part-time roles in 2023 and should get more playing time this year, while a mix of returning players and a strong freshman class will compete for playing time. Already, freshmen Tyler Turner, Rocco Tenuta, and Aaron Jasiak have become lineup regulars.
On the mound, the Chargers must replace ace Will Gifford and top closer Zane Barnhart, a 2023 MLB Draft pick, but do have experienced returning starters to lean on in seniors Tommy MacLean and Daly Skees, both of whom were solid for Hillsdale in 2023, as well as two other players with starting experience in Paul Brophy and Drew Olssen.
In the bullpen, replacing Barnhart will be a huge challenge. Hillsdale does have veterans who will contend for bigger roles, including seniors Chad Stevens, Brendan Pochmara and Devin Murray, and junior Brandon Scott, among others.
An X-factor for the Chargers as they look to assemble the best pitching staff possible is a talented freshman class that includes six right-handed arms who will compete for playing time both in the starting rotation and out of the bullpen, and could play a large role in the season to come depending on development. Already, freshmen Daniel Higdon and Luke Miller have recorded starts for the Chargers, while converted position player Andrew George has been lights out in three relief appearances, recording a save and allowing no hits and just one run.
Photo by Steve George