The Hillsdale College baseball team dropped three of the four games in a home series against Walsh University last weekend.
“Both teams were just coming up with big hits and at the end of the day, they got some big hits when they needed it,” head coach Eric Theisen said. “We were in a position to win at one point or another in every game. Walsh is one of the better teams and they may be the most experienced team in the conference.”
With nearly 20 upperclassmen on their team, the Cavaliers top Hillsdale’s five, certainly giving them an edge when it comes to experience.
“That was good to see, but our guys are not satisfied by any means,” Theisen said. “They love to compete and they love to win.”
Friday, April 2 (Game 1): Hillsdale, 6, Walsh, 14
It was a shutout game through the top of the fifth when Walsh scored a two-run homer, followed by a grand slam in the sixth. From there, the Chargers faced a six-run deficit that only grew larger after the Cavaliers scored five more in the top of the seventh.
Finally, in the bottom of the seventh, senior infielder Rob Zurawski hit a two-run homer to left field to put Hillsdale on the board. With the score 11-2, Walsh expanded its lead with two more runs in the eighth. The Chargers answered with a solo home run by freshman second baseman Nick Stepke and a sac fly by freshman DH Jaekob Sallee.
The Chargers trailed 14-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth when freshman first baseman Jeff Landis nailed a solo home run to right field. Stepke added one last run when he hit a single RBI to score freshman shortstop Aiden Brewer.
“I try to stay as consistent as possible and benefit the team as much as I can,” Stepke said. “I feel the season has gone pretty well and there are some bright spots for us in the younger classes.”
Theisen said Stepke’s consistency has paid off as he continues to fill larger roles on the team.
“Stepke has done a good job of grabbing that opportunity and running with it and not looking back,” Theisen said.
Junior pitcher David Toth took the loss, throwing for five innings, striking out three batters and giving up five runs.
Friday, April 2 (Game 2): Hillsdale, 2, Walsh, 7
The Chargers came back in game two with a more lively lineup to start. Freshman pitcher Nate Waligora came up to bat with runners on first and second. He managed a single RBI and with runners on first and third, Sallee came to the plate. He reached first on a fielder’s choice, Waligora got out at second, but freshman outfielder Danny Passinault scored, putting Hillsdale ahead 2-0.
From there, however, the Chargers lost momentum as Walsh’s defense managed to hold the home team scoreless for the remainder of the game.
“It felt really good to help the team in a big situation like that early in the game,” Waligora said. “I have the best teammates on the planet and they were really excited for me to get my first hit so just seeing how hyped up they were for me was an awesome feeling.”
Junior Sawyer Allen pitched six of the seven innings for Hillsdale. He faced 30 batters, striking out four and allowing six runs.
Saturday, April 3 (Game 3): Hillsdale, 12, Walsh, 16
Walsh started off with a 5-0 lead by the bottom of the third inning, but the Chargers answered with back-to-back four-run innings to take the lead, 8-5. A series of errors by Walsh’s defense loaded up the bases for Hillsdale when Landis came to the plate. He doubled for three RBI. A couple batters later, Stepke was in the box and doubled to score Landis in the third.
Then in fourth, Passinaul kept the momentum with a single. Freshman pitcher Evan Fauquher tripled to score Passinaul, then sophomore third baseman Cody Kanclerz singled to score Fauquher, tipping the score 5-6 in favor of the home team. Zurawski, up next, singled to score Kanclerz. Landis rounded out the Chargers’ scoring for the inning with a single RBI.
Walsh answered with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, followed by four more runs in the top of the sixth. Unrelenting, Hillsdale’s lineup mustered back-to-back solo home runs by Landis and Brewer. With Stepke on first, freshman outfielder Joe Hardenbergh joined the home run club for two RBI, giving the Chargers back their lead.
Now 12-11 with Hillsdale leading, Walsh homered in the top of the seventh to tie. The Chargers were unable to answer and Walsh went on to score four more in the top of the eighth.
Senior pitcher Andrew Verbrugge occupied the mound for much of the game, pitching four innings, facing 22 pitchers and giving up seven hits and runs.
Saturday, April 3 (Game 4): Hillsdale, 12, Walsh, 7
The Chargers’ only win of the weekend did not come easy as Walsh came out with a five-run lead to start the game. After a productive third inning from Hilldsale’s lineup, the Chargers led 6-5.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kanclerz walked and Zurawski doubled to put runners on second and third. Landis grounded out, but Kanclerz still managed to score for the first run of what would be a five-run inning.
With two outs, Brewer singled to score Zurawski, putting the Chargers ahead 8-5. Stepke walked, and then for the second time that day, Hardenber homered, sending his teammates around the bases for three RBI.
Walsh hung on with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, but Zurawski sealed the win with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Paul Brophy earned the win for the Chargers in the final game of the series.
Up Next:
The Chargers, now 13-11 (9-7 G-MAC), will take a weekend off before traveling to Kentucky Wesleyan University on April 17. Theisen said a weekend off is much needed for the team.
“It’s good timing for our bye weekend. We need that to recover. We’ve got a lot of guys still nursing some injuries,” Theisen said. “ We do have two outfielders coming back so that’ll help a little bit.”
