Hillsdale baseball split four games against NCAA Division II No. 5 University of Indianapolis Greyhounds Feb. 22-24. 

The Chargers, who entered the series winless at 0-3, lost the series opener on Saturday 7-4, lost the first game Sunday 7-6, then turned the weekend around by winning the nightcap Sunday 18-10. The final game of the series was Monday and the Chargers won with a dominating 20-7 final game over the Greyhounds. Freshman Tyler Sowers hit a grand slam during the eighth inning of Monday’s game, adding to the team’s overall nine runs for the inning. 

“This series was my first time playing this season as I was coming off an injury, so getting up there, I was just hoping to see a good pitch,” Sowers said. “Before I hit, I was talking with Rocco [Tenuta] about what we would eat for dinner after the game but then I just went up there, got a good fastball, and took it to left center. I didn’t think it would be gone off the bat but then it just kept going.”

As a part of the young team, which includes 15 freshmen, Sowers said he sees it as a good learning experience. 

“Practices are fun and the guys just want to be there,” Sowers said. “I’m excited because I think we should be a pretty good team this year.” 

Sowers helped the Chargers gain an early lead in the nightcap game Sunday with a home run during the third inning. The Chargers scored nine runs during the fourth inning from four hits and two errors as the night continued. This included a two-run single for freshman Will Lehman and a double by sophomore Will Millard. 

Millard, a catcher, finished Sunday’s nightcap with two doubles and Monday with an RBI single in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the eighth.

“Since I missed most of the fall with an injury I am happy that I was able to come back and contribute early to a couple big wins over a ranked opponent,” Millard said. “After the first two games against UIndy, I knew we would be able to compete and beat them so when we were able to play the way we did, it made me excited and hopeful for the remainder of the season.”

Freshman first baseman Will Lehman led the Chargers by finishing Saturday’s game with a double and two RBIs to lead Hillsdale at the plate. Despite the 7-4 loss to the Greyhounds, Lehman came back during Sunday’s nightcap and helped bring in two runs during the nine-point spree by the Chargers in the fourth inning. On Monday, he had a two-run single in the first inning and finished the game with two doubles and four RBIs. 

“This season for me has been a quick learning curve as a freshman, the biggest aspect being the speed of the game,” Lehman said. “Although this weekend went well for me in the box, I’m not content with where I’m at right now and am confident I can get more out of myself as we progress deeper into the season.” 

Senior third baseman Kaden Nowak assisted the Chargers in their win Sunday with an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning, which was followed by a bases-loaded walk by sophomore shortstop Rocco Tenuta. Nowak also had a two-run double and a RBI single during the game Monday. Nowak said he sees the young team doing big things during this season and this series as a foreshadowing of that. 

“We’ve come with a lot of optimism for the new season,” Nowak said. “The guys are excited to get opportunities and see how far this team can go.” 

On the mound for the Chargers on Monday, sophomore Hayden Hoffpauir got the win in relief after pitching three scoreless innings against the Greyhounds. Hoffpauir struck out three and gave up just one hit but no runs. 

“Between the first two and second two games, we really put the pieces together,” Hoffpauir said. “I was able to come in in the fourth inning and throw three scoreless innings because I just had a lot of confidence in the guys playing on the field behind me.”

On Feb. 24, all nine of the players in the lineup contributed at least one hit and scored at least one run. They finished with 22 hits for the game, the most in a single game for the Chargers since 2019 against Ohio Valley University when they also had 22 hits. Sunday’s nightcap and Monday’s game also saw the Charger’s most aggressive offensive performance with 38 runs combined for the two games. 

This weekend, the Chargers will play two games against No. 8 Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Friday and Saturday and then a single game against Lock Haven University on Sunday in Morgantown, West Virginia.