The Hillsdale College baseball team was on-point on the mound and lethal in the batter's box in an impressive doubleheader sweep of host California (PA) on Sunday at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.
The Chargers held a Vulcans offense that had scored 25 runs in two games against Wheeling earlier in the week to just two across the two games, while punishing California's pitching staff with five combined home runs in 7-1 and 4-1 victories.
In the seven-inning opener, Hillsdale jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, as freshman Rocco Tenuta hit a single to left field to score Danny Passinault to give Hillsdale a 1-0 edge. Cal (PA) tied up the game in the bottom of the third, but the Chargers retook the lead in the fifth, as senior Jeff Landis hit a two-run home run to put Hillsdale ahead for good, 3-1.
With Hillsdale's pitching staff throwing a gem, that lead would have been good enough, but the Chargers stayed aggressive in the top of the sixth, plating four more runs to put the game out of reach. Senior Jaekob Sallee hit a solo home run to lead off the inning, and senior Joe Hardenbergh hit his third home run of the season, a two-run shot, to cap the scoring for the Chargers. Tyler Turner also scored an unearned run on the bases after taking advantage of an error on an attempted pick-off of fellow freshman Aaron Jasiak at first base.
Hillsdale finished with 10 hits in the game 1 victory, led by a 3 for 3 outing from Tenuta. Sallee also went 2 for 4 with the home run and Passinault chipped in a double as well. Senior Tommy MacLean earned the win in four innings of work for the Chargers, striking out two, walking one and giving up just one earned run on four hits. Brandon Scott relieved MacLean and recorded his first career save, pitching three scoreless innings with one strikeout, two walks and just two hits conceded.
The nine-inning nightcap was a defensive struggle, as Hillsdale conceded just one run in the opening inning and was held scoreless by California (PA) for the first six innings. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh, freshman catcher Will Millard tied the game with one swing of the bat, hitting a solo home run to even things up.
Tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth, Hillsdale seized control. With one out, Tenuta hit a single to left field to give the Chargers a baserunner, and Sallee followed up with his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, to push Hillsdale in front 3-1 in the final inning. The Chargers added another insurance run in the inning, as Tyler Turner paid off a triple by Zak Kent in the previous at bat with a RBI single to center field to score Kent and give Hillsdale a 4-1 edge. A scoreless bottom of the inning by Cal (PA) secured the victory and the sweep of the day for the Chargers.
Sallee went 3 for 4 in the contest with a double and the go-ahead two-run home run on an impressive day for the senior, and Joe Hardenbergh chipped in two doubles as the Chargers pounded out 11 hits in the victory.
Devin Murray earned the win in relief, walking one in two scoreless innings of work, while Andrew George picked up the save, striking out one and walking one in a scoreless, hitless ninth for the Chargers. Daniel Higdon had a quality start for Hillsdale, going six innings with five strikeouts, two walks and just five hits and one earned run conceded, but took a no decision despite a strong performance.
Hillsdale is now 3-3 after a strong Sunday, and will look to finish the three-game series against the Vulcans with a sweep in the final game tomorrow, Monday, at 1 p.m.
Photo by Steve George