The Hillsdale College baseball team hung tough with Illinois-Springfield through three and a half innings in Friday's road series opener, but couldn't bounce back from a rough fourth inning in an 11-2 loss, its first of the season.
The Chargers trailed early, falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, but tied the game in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by Steve Strachan III that scored Joe Hardenbergh and Cody Kanclerz.
However, the Prairie Stars seized control of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating five runs after a home run by Chris Mathieu started the rally with one out.
Hillsdale got two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings to threaten to get back into the game, but the Chargers couldn't cash in those potential runs and UIS pulled away for the victory.
Kanclerz and Danny Passinault each went 2 for 4 to lead the Chargers at the plate, and Lewis Beals, Rob Zurawski and Hardenbergh each added a single as well.
Andrew Verbrugge took the loss for Hillsdale, striking out two and walking four in four innings of work, Will Gifford pitched three innings of relief with two strikeouts and a walk, and Brendan Pochmara pitched an inning of relief as well.
The Chargers (4-1) will look to even the score with the Prairie Stars on Saturday with two contests starting at Noon eastern time, and will wrap up the series with UIS on Sunday with a single game at 2 p.m. EST.