The Hillsdale College baseball team seniors leave Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field with a special weekend to remember after completing a four game sweep of visiting Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday.
The Chargers came into the weekend needing at least three wins to give themselves a realistic shot of making the G-MAC Tournament heading into the final week, and got that and more, leapfrogging Kentcuky Wesleyan for eighth place in the standings with one more four game set in the G-MAC to go.
Hillsdale opened the day with a 5-4 win over the Panthers in a seven inning contest. KWC jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in the top of the first and the top of the third, riding a strong start by ace Seth Wright. Undeterred, Hillsdale got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, as back to back singles by junior Will Shannon and senior Jaekob Sallee allowed Shannon to score from third on a Will Millard groundout to make it 2-1 Panthers.
With the spell broken, Hillsdale seized the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Tyler Turner and senior Danny Passinault each hit singles to get on base, and a double by Zak Kent tied the game at 2-apiece. With two runners on base, Shannon came to the plate and blasted a game-changing three-run home run to left center that put the Chargers ahead for good.
Kentucky Wesleyan made a final push in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on a home run and getting the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs, but closer Logan McLaughlin struck out the Panthers' cleanup hitter to earn his second save of the season and seal the victory.
Senior Paul Brophy picked up his fifth win of the season for the Chargers, going six innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Shannon went 2 for 3 at the plate with the home run to lead Hillsdale, while senior Evan Fauquher chipped in a double.
In the nightcap, strong pitching helped Hillsdale roll to a 5-1 victory to complete the sweep. Brandon Scott went eight innings with five strikeouts, two walks, and just three hits and one earned run conceded to earn his second win of the season. While he entered just outside of a save situation with Hillsdale up four runs in the ninth, freshman Aaron Jasiak pitched a solid inning of relief to help seal the victory, striking out two of the four batters he faced and giving up no hits.
At the plate, Will Shannon gace Hillsdale a lead it would never relinquish with a solo home run, his second of the day, in the bottom of the first inning. The Chargers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Sallee and heads-up baserunning, then took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double to left center by Rocco Tenuta. KWC got a run back in the top of the sixth, but a RBI single by Passinault gave the Chargers a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth and Hillsdale cruised from there.
Four players finished with multiple hits for the Chargers in the win, including Fauquher and Will Millard, who each added a double as well. Sallee was 2 for 3 and Passinault 2 for 4 as well for the Chargers.
As the final home game this season at Hillsdale College, today's doubleheader also was Senior Day, and the Chargers honored 15 graduating seniors with a pregame ceremony and the victories. Along with those alredy mentioned, Jeff Landis, Joe Hardenbergh, Nate Waligora, Trey Haeger, Brenden Pochmara, Devin Murray, Daly Skees, Tommy MacLean, Kolin Endres, Chad Stevens and Drew Olssen all were recognized.
Hillsdale is now 20-25 overall, 14-14 in the G-MAC, and in eighth place entering the final weekend, a game behind a three-way tie of Walsh, Tiffin and Ohio Dominican. The Chargers travel to North Canton, Ohio to take on the Cavaliers in four games on Thursday and Friday, with a series victory likely punching their ticket to the G-MAC Tournament the following week, and a split giving them a good shot to advance.
Photo by Steve George