Schedule
Hillsdale College (6-8) at Findlay (4-10) | 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 13 | Defiance High School – Defiance, OH
Hillsdale College (6-8) at Findlay (4-10) | 5 p.m. ET Sunday, March 13 | Defiance High School – Defiance, OH
Hillsdale College (6-8) at Findlay (4-10) | 1 p.m. ET Monday, March 14 | The Cube – Findlay, OH
Hillsdale College (6-8) at Findlay (4-10) | 4 p.m. ET Monday, March 14 | The Cube – Findlay, OH
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Findlay Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Findlay Stats | Live Stats
Preview
After a 6-8 start to the season in non-conference play, the Hillsdale College baseball team finally kicks off its G-MAC campaign in 2022 with four-game series at rival Findlay this Sunday and Monday.
Weather has altered the times, dates and locations for this weekend's series already, but both teams are determined to get these contests in. Please keep an eye on hillsdalechargers.com over the next few days in case there are any further adjustments made.
In its first year under new head coach Matt Palm, the Oilers stumbled to a 1-10 start out of the gate in 2022, though its one win came against a solid Grand Valley St. team on season-opening weekend.
Recently, however, Findlay has righted the ship with three straight victories, including a sweep of West Virginia Wesleyan to end its Florida trip on Saturday. The Oilers face off against Wayne St. on Tuesday before playing Hillsdale this weekend.
Offense has been a struggle so far for the Oilers, who are batting .252 and have scored six or more runs in just four of their 14 games, though three of those outings have come in the past week. Sophomore infielder Andrew Micale leads Findlay at the plate and is batting .410 with three doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs, while senior catcher Ryan O'Malley is hitting .295 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs as well.
On the mound, Findlay has an experienced group, with four seniors and a junior among the five players who've made starts for the Oilers this year. Third-team All-G-MAC pitcher Anthony Kyle is back with 15 strikeouts and five walks, but with a 6.60 ERA and an 0-2 record. Seniors Jordan Bekkier (4.34 ERA, 20 Ks, 4 BB) and Bailey McCord (4.15 ERA, 16 Ks, 8 BB) have been the most effective starters so far for Findlay.
Freshmen Ashton Schroeder and Jacob Flaherty are the most commonly-deployed relievers in a remade bullpen for the Oilers. Findlay has excelled at throwing strikes, with 112 strikeouts to 57 walks as a staff, but have been hit hard at times this year, with a 6.79 staff ERA and 117 runs conceded.
Hillsdale split last weekend at McKendree and appear to be on solid ground offensively. The Chargers are hitting .292 as a team, led by sophomore outfielder Lewis Beals, who's looking like a G-MAC player of the year contender with a .462 batting average, four doubles, three triples, five home runs and 16 RBIs, as well as a .942 slugging percentage. Beals accomplished a rare feat this past weekend by hitting for the cycle against the Bearcats, and earned G-MAC Player of the Week honors for his performance.
The Chargers have several other standout hitters so far. Sophomore shortstop Aidan Brewer is hitting .370 with eight extra-base hits and 16 RBIs, while outfielder Joe Hardenbergh is hitting .298 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Sophomore first baseman Jeff Landis and sophomore outfielder Danny Passinault are also hitting well north of .300 with a combined 12 extra base hits and 20 RBIs as well.
On the mound, Hillsdale returned just one career start this season among healthy pitchers at the beginning of 2022, but have found two quality starters in Will Gifford, who's 2-1 in four starts with 26 strikeouts to eight walks and a 4.26 ERA, and Tommy MacLean, who's 1-0 in three starts with a 6.11 ERA.
The Chargers are still looking to develop two more regular starters to pair with Gifford and MacLean. Paul Brophy and Devin Murray have also made starts and are among several pitchers likely to get an opportunity to lock down a spot in the rotation in the next couple of weeks.
In the bullpen, sophomores Zane Barnhart and Brendan Pochmara have pitched well so far for Hillsdale, as has senior James Krick.
The Chargers took three of four games against Findlay in the final weekend of the regular season in 2021 to clinch a G-MAC Tournament berth, while simultaneously ending the Oilers' season. Hillsdale was picked to finish seventh in the G-MAC preseason poll, while Findlay was slated to finish ninth in the conference.