In its final series before the start of G-MAC play next weekend, the Hillsdale College baseball Passinateam served notice that it's going to be a force to be reckoned with this season at the plate.
The Chargers exploded for 21 runs in the series finale at McKendree on Saturday, rolling to a 21-6 victory to split both the day's doubleheader action and the weekend series with the Bearcats.
Front and center for the Chargers offensively was sophomore outfielder Lewis Beals, who capped a wild weekend at the plate by going 3 for 5 with two home runs and seven RBIs in Sunday's victory. For the weekend, Beals went 11-17 with five home runs, a double, two triples and 10 RBIs in one of the best series for a hitter Hillsdale has seen in a long time.
But Beals wasn't the only Charger who had a big Sunday. Junior Cody Kanclerz went 4 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs, Aidan Brewer and Danny Passinault each hit a double and a home run and combined to drive in nine runs for the Chargers, and Evan Fauquher hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot, as well. Jeff Landis went 2 for 5 with a double as well for the Chargers, who pounded out 14 hits in the victory and never looked back after a seven-run second inning, continuing to score until the final out.
Devin Murray started for Hillsdale, striking out three and walking three, while Nate Waligora pitched in relief as well and earned the win for the Chargers, and David Toth made his first appearance of the season, pitching the final inning.
The victory came after a 9-5 loss in the first contest of the day, as the Chargers fell behind early and couldn't quite pull off a late rally.
Beals led off the game with a solo home run for the Chargers, and Joe Hardenbergh scored Danny Passinault on a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give Hillsdale a 2-0 lead. The Bearcats, however, seized control after that, plating seven runs over the next four and a half innings while the Chargers struggled to recapture the momentum they had offensively in the first inning.
Hardenbergh hit a home run in the top of the sixth to cut into the lead for Hillsdale, but McKendree tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to take a six-run lead into the final inning. The Chargers made a good rally attempt, getting a RBI double from Passinault and scoring another run on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 9-5, but that was as close as the Chargers would get as the gap proved to be too much to overcome.
Passinault went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple to lead the Chargers at the plate, Beals and Brewer each went 2 for 4 for Hillsdale, and Nick Stepke and Kanclerz each added a double.
Will Gifford (2-2) took the loss on the mound, pitching four innings with four strikeouts and three walks, while Marc Bergeron pitched two innings of relief.
Hillsdale ends the non-conference portion of its schedule 6-8, with several impressive wins and close losses. The Chargers will look to get off to a strong start in the G-MAC next weekend with a four-game series at Findlay, playing doubleheaders on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 with both starting at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Photo by Anthony Lupi