The Hillsdale baseball team defeated the top-ranked Lee University Flames in two-of-three games last weekend in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Coming into the weekend Lee was ranked 11th in the Collegiate Baseball NCAA DII poll and 18th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association DII poll.
“We had a great series this weekend,” head coach Tom Vessella said. “Taking two out of three from Lee showed what type of team we can be this year. This team has the potential to be something special when we put all the pieces together. When we play solid defense and throw strikes, we can compete with anyone.”
Junior Brendan Pochmara said it was the most exciting weekend he has had as a Hillsdale College baseball player.
“To take a series from a top-ranked team nationally is a big statement for us,” Pochmara said.
Hillsdale lost the first game 16-5 with the Flames scoring 10 runs before the Chargers got in one.
“One big moment was game one in general,” senior Aidan Brewer said. “I think that was a big wake-up call for us. We came out pretty flat and weren’t able to get ourselves back in the game, but it lit a fire under us for games two and three where we knew what we needed to do.”
In game two, sophomore pitcher Tommy MacLean set the team up to start and junior pitcher Zane Barnhart closed it out, allowing offense to get him the run support he needed. Senior infielder Cody Kanclerz hit a homerun, tying the game at 1-1.
“I like where we are at the moment,” Vessella said. “The big thing for us will be continuing where we left off and playing solid baseball.”
In game three, junior first baseman Jeff Landis and junior outfielder Lewis Beals both hit home runs. Yet the most pivotal moment was Landis’ two-run single that gave the Chargers the lead in the ninth. Senior relief pitcher Dillon Manion also played a crucial role in the game.
“Overall, the team and I feel great about the weekend,” Brewer said. “It was great to get back on the field and compete against another team as opposed to just facing our own guys inside. I think there is still plenty of room for us to get better both individually, and as a team, which is exciting that we can keep improving.”
Vessella said he will be specifically focusing on improvements with the pitching staff in the coming week.
“We need to be a little better on the mound, getting ahead of hitters and throwing more strikes,” Vessella said. “Increasing our strike percentage will be a big focus for the pitching staff this week.”
Vessella also said there were some standout players last weekend.
“There were several standout performances this weekend,” Vessella said. “Tommy MacLean and Zane Barnhart were fantastic in game two, holding Lee to just one run. Lewis Beals and Jeff Landis both came up big for us at the plate in clutch situations to put us up on top in game three.”
The team will follow up this success with three games this weekend against Davenport University in Millington, Tennessee.
“They’re another regionally ranked opponent, and they’re always solid every year,” Pochmara said. “We opened up the season against them last year, stole two of three from them last year in Hoover, Alabama, so it’d be exciting to see those guys again. They’re a tough squad, but, I mean, we are too, and I think we just proved that.”
