The baseball team played six games in the last week. They won three and lost three.
After losing to Grand Valley State University (6-0) on March 20, the Chargers (3-3) swept Walsh University (1-3) over the weekend. The team then dropped two more games to GVSU on March 26.
Grand Valley, currently 18th in national rankings, topped Hillsdale 12-1 and 13-8 in yesterday’s games.
In the first game’s second inning, junior Shane Armstrong got into trouble early, walking two batters and hitting one. Grand Valley recorded only one hit in the inning but managed five runs.
The Chargers scored their one run in the fifth. Sophomore Luke Ortel singled into center, batting in junior Sean Bennett.
Grand Valley again jumped ahead early in the second game, scoring 10 runs in the first four innings to Hillsdale’s three. But then Hillsdale came back.
The Chargers scored three in the fifth off a single from Ortel, a double from senior Adam Ladzinski, and another single by junior Nolan Breymaier.
Sophomore pitcher Chris McDonald held Grand Valley scoreless in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the sixth, sophomore Lincoln Reed doubled and freshman Jake Lee singled, scoring Hillsdale two more runs and pulling the team within two of the Lakers.
But Grand Valley responded with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and the Chargers couldn’t respond.
The weekend games ended much more favorably for Hillsdale.
Coach Eric Theisen praised the team’s pitchers for their two Saturday games. The Chargers shut out Walsh in both, 7-0 and 1-0.
Senior Matthew Reck pitched for Hillsdale in the first game. He held Walsh to four hits and forced five strikeouts.
Freshman Jake Lee threw in the second game. He allowed just one run and struck out three.
Both pitchers threw complete games.
“That sets the tone for the whole weekend,” Theisen said. “When you don’t have to go to your bullpen – that’s huge.”
Breymaier batted in the second Walsh game’s only run. Two outs into the bottom of the fourth, Breymaier took two strikes before smacking a single into center field. Sophomore Tad Sobieszczanski scored the run.
“Sometimes all you need to do is come up with one clutch hit,” Theisen said.
He said the whole weekend exemplified good team baseball. Point in case: the Hillsdale offense’s collaboration to score the final run of the series’ third game.
Going into the bottom of the sixth, the game tied at four, sophomore Connor Bartlett singled. He then advanced to second as Reed grounded out.
Junior Vinny Delicata got on base after taking a hit. A single from Ortel put Bartlett onto third. Ladzinski then forced a fielder’s choice and Bartlett crossed home. Hillsdale held on and won, 5-4.
“It truly was a great team weekend,” Theisen said.
Hillsdale next plays this weekend in a three-game series at Malone University.