The Hillsdale College baseball team got off to a slow start and never recovered in two losses to Maryville and McKendree on Friday to kick off a three-day swing through St. Louis.
The Chargers fell 10-0 to host Maryville in the opening game, managing just one hit and two total baserunners in the seven-inning loss to a Saints team that made the NCAA Midwest Regional in 2023. Joe Hardenbergh's single in the top of the first inning prevented Hillsdale from getting no-hit, and Will Shannon also reached on an error as a pinch hitter for the Chargers in the seventh.
Maryville, meanwhile, took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second and steadily pulled away. Tommy MacLean took the loss on the mound for Hillsdale, striking out one and walking one in four innings of work, and Devin Murray also pitched two innings of relief for the Chargers, striking out one and walking two.
In the nightcap, Hillsdale was a little better offensively, managing five hits, but still struggled to generate runs in a 7-0 loss to McKendree. Hardenbergh and junior Zak Kent each hit a double for the Chargers, while senior Danny Passinault drew three walks and stole two bases. The Chargers had chances to score in the five of the nine innings, but couldn't get a runner home from third base in the first, seventh and ninth innings, and Shannon was thrown out at home while trying to score from third base on a fly ball in the top of the fourth.
The Bearcats used a four-run second inning to seize control of the game, and added two insurance runs late to ensure that Hillsdale wouldn't be able to come back.
Freshman Luke Miller took the loss for Hillsdale against McKendree, going three and a third innings with four strikeouts and two walks, and senior Drew Olssen pitched four and two thirds innings of relief, striking out six and walking one as well for the Chargers.
Hillsdale is now 3-6 in the year and will look to move on from Friday's performance with a game at Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday at noon CST. The Chargers complete the trip on Sunday with a rematch against Maryville.
Photo by Steve George