Playing a home game that started under the lights for the first time in the 130-plus year history of the program, the Hillsdale College baseball team got off to a solid start but couldn't hold off a nationally-recognized opponent in a 12-5 loss to visiting Saginaw Valley on Wednesday night.
In front of one of the largest crowds to ever take in a Hillsdale College baseball game, the Chargers took an early lead on a Cardinals team that was the first team out of the NCBWA DII Top 25 poll this week and is currently leading the GLIAC. After back-to-back walks in the bottom of the first inning, senior Jeff Landis hit a towering blast over the right-field fence to give Hillsdale a 3-1 lead. The Chargers would stay in front for the next four innings, though Hillsdale did miss a chance to add to their lead with runners at second and third in the bottom of the third inning.
Things unraveled for the Chargers in the top of the sixth, as SVSU scored eight runs on six hits and four walks to turn a 3-2 deficit into a commanding 10-3 lead. The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the seventh to go up 12-3 and put the game largely out of reach. Down to their last at-bats, Hillsdale made one final rally in the bottom of the ninth, plating two runs on a Zak Kent double to close the gap, but the lead was too much to overcome late.
Freshman Aaron Jasiak had a single and a double to lead Hillsdale at the plate, while senior Jaekob Sallee chipped in a pair of hits and Kaden Nowak added a pinch-hit double as well for the Chargers. Hillsdale finished the contest with 11 hits but also stranded 11 runners, keeping the Chargers from keeping pace with SVSU's late game offensive explosion.
Starter Luke Miller pitched a solid game for Hillsdale, going five innings with three strikeouts and two walks, but took the loss as SVSU pulled ahead at the start of the sixth inning. Hayden Hoffpauir, Devin Murray, Logan McLaughlin, Andrew George, Drew Erdei and Jasiak each threw in relief as well for Hillsdale to finish off the final four innings of the contest.
The Chargers are now 12-19 overall and face a huge weekend series this Saturday and Sunday as Hillsdale hosts Malone in four critical conference contests for the Chargers' G-MAC Tournament hopes. First pitch on Saturday is at 1 p.m. and the doubleheader is also Hillsdale's annual Alumni Day celebration as the Chargers welcome back several former players from years past.
Photo by Steve George