The Hillsdale College baseball team fell prey to Cedarville's power hitting in two doubleheader losses to the Yellowjackets on Friday at home.
Cedarville hit six home runs across the two games and scored 13 of their 22 runs on the day on home runs. Hillsdale hit three bombs of their own but ultimately couldn't quite match the Yellow Jackets offensively in 18-12 and 4-1 losses.
The Chargers opened the day by holding Cedarville scoreless for the first two innings, but the floodgates opened in the top of the third in Game 1, as the Yellow Jackets plated six runs to jump ahead, then added seven more in the top of the fourth to take a 13-0 lead.
Hillsdale made a furious comeback, scoring seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings, to cut into the deficit but never got closer than six runs back of the Yellow Jackets in an 18-12 defeat.
Aidan Brewer led the comeback for the Chargers, hitting back-to-back three run home runs in the eighth and ninth innings and finishing 4 for 6 at the plate with an additional double as well.
Cody Kanclerz hit a RBI double and Lewis Beals and Nick Stepke each chipped in RBI singles for the Chargers, who matched Cedarville in hits with 18 in the contest but couldn't generate as many runs off of those balls in play. Joe Hardenbergh went 3 for 4 as well for the Chargers.
Starter Drew Olssen took the loss for Hillsdale, pitching three innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Logan Simon, Brandon Scott, David Toth and Nate Waligora all pitched in relief for Hillsdale, with Toth throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one walk for the Chargers.
After combining for 36 hits in the first game of the doubleheader, the Yellow Jackets and Chargers combined for just nine in the nightcap in a much more defensive contest. Cedarville jumped out in front in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run, but senior James Krick answered back with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one apiece.
The Chargers couldn't find a combination to get the go-ahead run across, however, and it was Cedarville who would take the game on a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning in a 4-1 victory.
Hillsdale mustered just three hits in the contest, two by Krick, as the Chargers couldn't take advantage of seven walks by Cedarville that gave Hillsdale multiple chances to drive in a go-ahead run throughout the game.
Paul Brophy pitched well in the contest for Hillsdale, going six and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts, three walks and just four hits conceded. Zane Barnhart (1-3) also pitched in relief for the Chargers, and took the loss.
Hillsdale falls to 13-20 overall, and 6-12 in the G-MAC with today's defeats. The Chargers face two more critical contests on Saturday against Cedarville, starting at 1 p.m. at Simpson Field. Hillsdale must get at least one win, and probably two, to stay within striking distance of the sixth and final spot in the G-MAC Tournament in May.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop