In the first games played at the new TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium on Saturday, the Hillsdale College baseball team couldn't overcome big early deficits in a pair of losses to G-MAC foe Findlay.
The Chargers fell behind 10-0 two and a half innings into the first game against the Oilers, and despite 13 hits couldn't rally in a 17-7 loss. Hillsdale plated four runs in the seventh and eighth innings on a two-run home run by Will Shannon and a two-run double by Rocco Tenuta to cut Findlay's lead to 12-6 and give the Chargers some hope, but Findlay scored five runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away.
Hillsdale had 13 hits to Findlay's 15, but the Oilers drew 10 walks to Hillsdale's one, and those extra baserunners proved to be the difference in a high-scoring contest.
Tenuta added another RBI double in the second inning and finished with three hits to lead the Chargers in the loss, while Danny Passinault went 3 for 4 as well. Shannon chipped in a RBI single to go with his home run, and Jaekob Sallee also had a solo home run in the ninth for Hillsdale.
Daniel Higdon took the loss for the Chargers, pitching 2 and a third innings. Devin Murray struck out five in four and two-thirds innings of relief, and Luke Miller also pitched in relief for Hillsdale.
In the nightcap, Findlay jumped out to a 4-0 lead and scored in six of the seven innings to pull away for a 14-10 victory. Hillsdale trailed 13-4 but made a late push with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, kick-started by another solo home run by Jaekob Sallee. Tenuta followed that with a RBI single that saw another Hillsdale run scored on a subsequent throwing error, and the Chargers added two more runs on a bases loaded walk by Jeff Landis and a wild pitch that scored Tenuta from third.
That cut the deficit to 13-9, but the Chargers couldn't keep the rally going in the inning, and couldn't find the timely hits it needed to sustain the comeback over the next two innings.
Landis went 2 for 3 with two RBI singles to lead the Chargers at the plate, Passinault added two hits as well, Kaden Nowak chipped in a RBI single and Shannon also had a double for the Chargers in the loss.
Tommy MacLean took the loss on the mound, striking out two and walking two in three and two-thirds innings of work. Brandon Scott, Logan McLaughlin and Chad Stevens all pitched for the Chargers as well.
Hillsdale falls to 4-11 on the season and 0-2 in G-MAC play, and will look to bounce back and try to split the series with two more games against Findlay on Sunday at TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium, starting at 1 p.m.
Photo by Steve George