The Hillsdale College baseball team did something no other G-MAC squad had done in 12 previous tries this spring to kick off a weekend series against Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday.
The Charger beat the host Panthers 7-6 in the first game, handing KWC its first conference loss of the season and snapping a 12-game G-MAC winning streak. Hillsdale would come up short in its bid to sweep the doubleheader in a 5-3 loss in the nightcap, but have still put themselves in position to chase a split or even a series win against a team that looked like it was running away with the G-MAC title entering the weekend.
Hillsdale played from ahead for almost all of the first game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a Panther error, and tacking on another run on a Danny Passinault single in the top of the fourth.
KWC plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth to briefly take a 3-2 lead, but Passinault put the Chargers ahead for good with a two-run double in the top of the sixth, and Cooper Peterson tacked on three insurance runs that turned out to be critical with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh.
The Panthers scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut Hillsdale's lead to 7-6, but relief pitcher Logan Simon worked his way out of the jam with a fly-out to end the inning, then pitched two scoreless innings with just one hit conceded to seal the victory and earn his second save of the season.
Peterson added a double as well as a home run and finished with four RBIs to lead the Chargers at the plate, and Aidan Brewer chipped in a double as well.
David Toth had a strong start to earn his second win of the season for Hillsdale, striking out seven and walking four in six innings of work, and Marc Bergeron pitched a third of an inning of relief as well.
In contrast to the first game, the Chargers spent most of the nightcap playing catch-up after the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Hillsdale got a run back in the top of the third when Tyler Harris scored on a passed ball, but the Chargers still trailed 5-1 entering the top of the seventh.
Hillsdale strung together a late rally, with Rob Zurawski hitting a two-run home run to cut the lead to 5-3 and give the Chargers some hope, but that was as close as Hillsdale would get.
Zurawski had a big game at the plate to lead the Chargers, going 3 for 4 with that home run, and Cody Kanclerz was 2 for 4 as well. Jeff Landis and Lewis Beals each chipped in a double for Hillsdale.
Sawyer Allen took the loss, pitching five innings with two strikeouts and three walks, and Caleb Biedenharn chipped in an inning of relief, striking out one batter.
The split helps Hillsdale (14-12, 10-8 G-MAC) maintain its position in a crowded pack in the conference standings, as the Chargers look to lock up a G-MAC tournament berth after a two-year absence, in part due to the cancellation of the 2020 season last spring. The Chargers will play two more games against Kentucky Wesleyan tomorrow, beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
Photo by Summer Fields