The Hillsdale College baseball team opened their season with a series against Kentucky Wesleyan College (3-4). The Chargers split the Sunday doubleheader but were defeated in Monday’s nine-inning game.
“Being able to get outside and play was huge,” head coach Paul Noce said. “We were happy with what we saw defensively, and pitching was kind of what we were hoping for.”
Noce said the team mostly struggled hitting, though this was the first time the team has seen live outdoor pitching this year.
In the first game, the Panthers capitalized off of a Hillsdale error for their only run of the game. The Chargers could not respond and were defeated 1-0.
Sophomore first baseman Matt Pochmara and senior center fielder Pat O’Hearn had Hillsdale’s two hits for the game.
But the Chargers responded in the second game of the doubleheader with a 4-2 win. The game was tied at 2-2 until the fifth inning when senior center fielder Mike Blanchard batted in junior third baseman Scott Lantis. In the seventh, Blanchard hit another RBI. Junior second baseman Scott Rhodes got the run.
“We learned that communication and in-game adjustments were key to finding an edge in competing,” Blanchard said. “Not that we were totally lacking in those areas, [but] just learning to be more efficient with the cards we see [the other team] playing.”In Monday’s game, the Chargers could not keep the momentum going and lost 5-2. Hillsdale had six hits against Kentucky Wesleyan’s nine.
“I think we showed great enthusiasm and fought for the entire series, and I think that’s going to translate into a lot of wins and a GLIAC playoff berth,” O’Hearn said.
Noce said these pre-GLIAC games are very important for post-season play as well as for evaluating the team.
The team graduated eight seniors last year and, though that did leave some positions open, Noce said the juniors who played last year still provide a solid base of starters. Senior pitchers Dan Rhodes and Kris Morris, as well as sophomore pitcher Tyler Haggerson, have also returned to the team after sitting out last year due to injuries.
“They were all healthy and contributing on the weekend,” Noce said.
The team welcomed nine freshmen to the team this year. Four of those freshmen traveled with the team to Kentucky Wesleyan. Freshman Nolan Breymaier played shortstop all three games.
“Freshman have a key role this year with the amount of seniors gone at short[stop], behind the plate, and left field,” Blanchard said. “They’ve shown good discipline at the plate, so I have very high expectations for them as league play starts here soon.”
This weekend, Hillsdale will travel to Louisville, Ky., to play at Bellarmine University. The Chargers will travel to Florida over spring break to play six games as they continue to find the starting line-up and pitching rotation. When the team returns, they face Saginaw Valley State University in their first GLIAC game of the season on March 24.
Noce said the team’s goal this year is to make it to the conference tournament.
“That’s what we’re shooting for,” he said. “We’re getting better, and we’re improving. That’s the next step.”
