The Hillsdale College baseball team's home run anthem went almost unheard in two losses to Ashland in their home-opening doubleheader on Sunday.
Wrapping up the series with the Eagles on Monday, the Chargers more than made up for it.
Hillsdale blasted seven home runs across two wins to beat Ashland 6-1 and 12-8, and split the weekend series with the Eagles. The victories also get the Chargers back to .500 in G-MAC play heading into a weekend series with Trevecca Nazarene, the fourth-ranked team in NCAA Division II, beginning on Friday.
In the opener, the Chargers turned just five hits into six runs, thanks to three home runs and a double. Hillsdale scored in each of the first three innings, kicked off by a two-run home run by sophomore Lewis Beals in the bottom of the first. Junior Cody Kanclerz added a solo shot in the bottom of the second, and sophomore Aidan Brewer hit a RBI double in the bottom of the third as well.
The Eagles got a run back in the top of the fourth to make it 4-1 Chargers, but senior James Krick answered back with a two-run home run, his third in as many games as a hitter, in the bottom of the fifth to stretch the lead back to five runs.
While the Chargers offense popped off in the win, Hillsdale's pitching staff also turned in a great performance. Will Gifford improved to 4-1 overall, going six and two thirds innings and giving up just one earned run. Sophomore Zane Barnhart earned the save, his third of the season, in relief, striking out the only batter he faced to seal the win.
Hillsdale kept the offensive fireworks going in the nightcap, pounding out eight extra-base hits, including four home runs, in a 12-8 victory. The contest was back and forth early, as the Chargers answered a two-run first inning by the Eagles with a solo home run from sophomore Jeff Landis in the bottom of the inning, then scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the second to tie the game.
Ashland hit a two-run home run of its own in the top of the third to retake the lead, but Beals counterpunched in the bottom of the inning with his ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot, to tie the game at 4-apiece.
From there, the Chargers seized control. Hillsdale plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth, all on RBI singles by Krick, Brewer and sophomore Joe Hardenbergh, then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by sophomore Danny Passinault and Beals.
Passinault hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh and Brewer added a two-run shot in the bottom of the eight to give Hillsdale a 12-5 lead. Ashland made it interesting late, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth and putting the tying run on deck, but Krick, pitching in relief, induced a game-ending double play to seal the victory.
Brewer went 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and a home run to lead the Chargers in the victory, and Beals and Passinault each chipped in a double and a home run as well.
Logan Simon got his first win of the season in relief for the Chargers, striking out one and giving up two hits and no runs in four innings of work. Nate Waligora got the start for the Chargers, pitching three innings, and Chad Stevens and Krick pitched in relief as well.
With the wins today, the Chargers improve to 10-12 overall and are currently tied for fourth in the G-MAC standings with Kentucky Wesleyan with two series in the book. Hillsdale faces a tough task next with four contests Friday and Saturday at defending G-MAC and Midwest Regional champion Trevecca Nazarene, currently ranked fourth in the CBN DII Top 25 poll, up next.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop