The Hillsdale College baseball team couldn't capitalize on a fast start in its first game at Simpson Field in 2023 on Tuesday, giving up six straight runs after tying the game in the third inning to fall to visiting Grand Valley 11-3 in a midweek contest.
The Chargers' Will Shannon scored the first run of the game on a solo home run to left center, giving Hillsdale a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Hillsdale also answered GVSU's first big push, as senior second baseman Nick Stepke drew a walk to start the third inning, stole two bases and got driven in on a base hit by teammate Cody Kanclerz to tie the game at two-apiece in the bottom of the third after the Lakers had take a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning.
But GVSU went back ahead in the top of the fourth inning and plated five runs in the top of the sixth to take an 8-2 lead, while Hillsdale's offense stalled out, managing just one more hit -- a single by Jaekob Sallee in the fourth inning -- for the rest of the game.
Hillsdale did get one run back in the bottom of the seventh as junior shortstop Aidan Brewer, like Stepke, drew a leadoff walk and stole two bases, setting up pinch hitter Trey Haeger to drive him in on a sacrifice fly. GVSU, however, answered with three runs in the top of the eighth inning to put the game away for good.
Sallee also stole a base for the Chargers, who finished with three hits offensively in the loss. On the mound, Hillsdale threw a staff day, with eight different pitchers appearing. Drew Erdei took the loss for Hillsdale in relief in an inning of work, while sophomore Andrew George faced the most batters and recorded the most outs, going one and two thirds innings with two strikeouts and a walk as well.
Hillsdale (6-12) will look to bounce back with a better showing at the plate this weekend, with a critical four game series on tap against G-MAC foe Kentucky Wesleyan this Saturday and Sunday in Owensboro, Kentucky. The action begins at 1 PM Eastern Time on Saturday with a nine-inning contest, the first game in a doubleheader.
Photo by Regan Meyer