Preview: Chargers face tough tests against #5 Trevecca Nazarene, Wayne State

Mar 24, 2022

Schedule

Hillsdale College (10-12, 4-4 G-MAC) at #5 Trevecca Nazarene (20-4, 6-2 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. ET Friday, March 25 | Jackson Field – Nashville, TN

Hillsdale College (10-12, 4-4 G-MAC) at #5 Trevecca Nazarene (20-4, 6-2 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, March 25 | Jackson Field – Nashville, TN

Wayne State (13-5) at Hillsdale College (10-12, 4-4 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 29 | Simpson Field – Hillsdale, MI

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Preview

For the second straight weekend, Hillsdale rallied on the second day of a series to force a split against a G-MAC foe, beating Ashland twice on Monday to improve to 4-4 overall in conference play.

That leaves the Chargers in a solid position entering an extremely challenging weekend, as Hillsdale makes the long trip to Nashville to take on defending G-MAC and Midwest Regional champion Trevecca Nazarene. The fifth-ranked team in the country, the Trojans are likely the best squad Hillsdale will see all season. Hillsdale also comes back on Tuesday and hosts a single nine-inning midweek game against regional opponent Wayne St. to wrap up a tough stretch.

The runaway favorite to win the G-MAC crown, Trevecca has so far lived up to hype with a 20-4 record, though two of those losses have come in conference play.

The Trojans have the conference's best offense with a .324 average and 40 more runs scored than the Chargers, who currently sit in second. Junior outfielder Henry Mosley and sophomore infielder Roland Ryan are the standouts so far for Trevecca. Mosley is hitting .381 with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 RBIs, while Ryan is hitting .418 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Logan West and senior outfielder Braden Odom also have been impressive for a team that has strong hitters top-to-bottom.

Trevecca also boasts the best pitching staff to date in the G-MAC as well, with a 4.07 staff ERA. Senior ace Justin Campbell is 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 45 strikeouts to nine walks, and senior Alex Clouthier is also 4-0 in seven starts with a 4.29 ERA. Senior Caleb Bly gives Trevecca a third experienced starter to deploy.

Jack Keele is the team's closer and has yet to give up a run in eight appearances, with four saves. Freshman Caleb Marks and sophomores Brooks Helton and Davis Jackson are also frequently deployed and effective relief pitchers for the Trojans.

Wayne State, meanwhile, is off to an impressive 13-5 start, and looking like a potential contender in the GLIAC. The Warriors are led by an impressive offense that's hit .293 so far and includes five regular starters hitting above .300.

Senior Hunter DeLanoy is the top threat in an experienced and balanced offense, hitting .344 with three doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs. Fellow seniors Jacob Finkbeiner, Chris Tanderys and Ryan Foley are all hitting above .295 with multiple extra base hits and 14 RBIs apiece as well.

In a midweek game after a weekend series, the Chargers are unlikely to see any of Wayne St.'s top starters on the mound. Senior Ryan Korolden, sophomore Kaden Stively and freshman Jimmy Love are all players who've been effective in spot starting duty for the Warriors this season and could get the call on Tuesday. Senior Chad Sommers, who went to high school in Jonesville, seven miles north of Hillsdale, is the Warriors' top reliever.

Hillsdale continues to stand out offensively on the year, hitting eight home runs in the weekend series with the Eagles. The Chargers are hitting .295 as a team, led by sophomore outfielder Lewis Beals, who's looking like a G-MAC player of the year contender with a .422 batting average, five doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 27 RBIs, as well as an .880 slugging percentage. Beals accomplished a rare feat two weekends ago by hitting for the cycle against the Bearcats, and earned G-MAC Player of the Week honors for his performance that week.

The Chargers have several other standout hitters so far. Sophomore shortstop Aidan Brewer is hitting .386 with 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs, while sophomore first baseman Jeff Landis is batting .333 with 11 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs as well. Sophomore outfielders Danny Passinault and Joe Hardenbergh are also off to strong starts at the plate, with Passinault hitting .352 with eight extra-base hits and 15 RBIs, and Hardenbergh hitting .284 with seven extra-base hits and 18 RBIs.

On the mound, Hillsdale returned just one career start this season among healthy pitchers at the beginning of 2022, but have found a quality top-end starter in junior Will Gifford, who's 4-1 in six starts with 29 strikeouts to 15 walks and a 3.82 ERA. Two more pitchers – redshirt freshman Tommy MacLean, who's 1-0 in five starts with a 6.41 ERA and 21 strikeouts, and sophomore Paul Brophy, who has a 6.35 ERA and 21 strikeouts to just eight walks in five starts – are showing promise and continuing to develop.

Freshman Devin Murray, sophomore Nate Waligora and junior Dillon Manion also have started at times for Hillsdale as the Chargers look to build depth in the starting rotation. In the bullpen, sophomore Zane Barnhart has pitched well for Hillsdale with a 3.60 ERA and three saves so far, as has fellow sophomore Brenden Pochmara, sophomore Logan Simon, and senior James Krick.

Hillsdale did not play Trevecca in the regular season in 2021, but met the Trojans in the G-MAC tournament, falling 9-0 to Trevecca. The last full series between the Chargers and Trojans came in 2019, when Hillsdale took three of four games from Trevecca. The Chargers, meanwhile, are 16-44 all-time against Wayne St., who was a regular opponent for Hillsdale during its long run in the GLIAC. Hillsdale, however, has had recent success against the Warriors, going 7-3 in their last 10 meetings, including a doubleheader sweep of Wayne St. in 2019.