Senior Joe Hardenbergh hit two home runs against Missouri-St. Louis. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

In a three-day trip to Saint Louis, the baseball team lost to Maryville University and McKendree University on March 1, Missouri-St. Louis on March 2, and Maryville University again on March 3.

“It was pretty much just a rough weekend for us, but we definitely want to turn it around,” senior Joe Hardenbergh said. “We just need to come back and work hard in practice. We’re in a rut right now, but it’s alright; we’ll come back and turn it around.”

In the opening game, the Chargers lost 10-0 to host school Maryville.

Hardenbergh hit a single in the first inning, junior Tommy MacLean pitched for Hillsdale, striking out one and walking one, and senior Devin Murray pitched two innings of relief, striking out one and walking two.

In their second game that night, Hillsdale lost 7-0 to McKendree but managed five hits.

Hardenbergh and junior Zak Kent hit doubles, and senior Danny Passinault stole two bases and earned three walks. Freshman pitcher Luke Miller pitched for three innings, striking out four players and walking two. Senior Drew Olssen pitched almost five innings of relief, striking out six players and walking one.

“We didn’t play too well in all three aspects of the game; hitting, pitching, and defense were off,” Hardenbergh said. “But that’s baseball. We’re gonna work hard, and hopefully, we can gain some traction going into conference play.”

In Saturday’s game, the Chargers led 13-4 in the fifth inning, but UMSL rallied and won the game on a walk-off double in the ninth inning in a 17-16 finish.

Hardenbergh and freshman Rocco Tenuta both hit two-run home runs and two more players made it home on a hit by Jeff Landis. Shannon, Passinault, and freshman Tyler Turner also led Hillsdale’s offense in batting.

Despite Hillsdale’s performance at the game’s start, UMSL returned in the sixth and seventh innings and took the lead after scoring 10 points. 

Freshman Will Millard’s home run tied the game 14-14, and Hardenbergh hit a second home run, bringing the game to 1614 in favor of the Chargers.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, UMSL loaded the bases and hit a grand slam, winning the game. 

In the Charger’s Sunday match, senior Jaekob Sallee hit an RBI single and brought Landis and Shannon home early on, but Maryville made seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-2 lead. 

Year Daly Skees pitched just over four innings, striking out three and walking two, and senior Chad Stevens pitched two innings of relief, striking out four. Seniors Paul Brophy and Brendan Pochmara also pitched for Hillsdale.

Freshman Aaron Jasiak and Hardenbergh both added a run in the seventh inning, but Maryville rallied in the eighth inning, bringing the game to 14-4.

“We played hard, but it didn’t go our way,” Sallee said. “There were a lot of learning moments this weekend and things we can build on going forward.”