A strong staff pitching performance and three extra-base hits for RBIs, including two home runs, helped the Hillsdale College baseball team trip up one of the top teams in the Midwest Region for the second time this spring
The Chargers earned a 6-4 victory over GLIAC title contender Wayne State on Tuesday on the road, holding the Warriors to just two hits in the contest.
A combined seven pitchers took the mound for Hillsdale in the victory and together pitched a nine-inning gem, holding a powerhouse Wayne State lineup to just one earned run while striking out a total of nine batters. Senior James Krick (3-2) got the victory after pitching the sixth inning, and Zane Barnhart closed out the game with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Dillon Manion struck out three in the fourth and fifth innings as well for the Chargers, while Devin Murray, Kolin Endres, Chad Stevens and Brendan Pochmara all played a role on the mound for the Chargers as well.
The Warriors were without a hit for four full innings but took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after taking advantage of a throwing error and two walks. Hillsdale turned the tables in the top of the fifth, as a leadoff single by sophomore Nick Stepke led to a four-run inning. Jaekob Sallee hit a RBI triple, his fourth of the season, to drive in Stepke, and Jeff Landis later added his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot, to give the Chargers a 4-2 lead.
Wayne St. tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, but sophomore Danny Passinault hit a two-run home run to right field in the top of the seventh to give Hillsdale the lead for good.
The Chargers outhit the Warriors 7-4, with Passinault hitting a single to go with his home run to finish the day as the only player on either team with multiple hits in the contest. Joe Hardenbergh and Aidan Brewer each added a single as well.
Hillsdale completes the season sweep of a two-game series with Wayne St. with the victory, adding to a 10-9 win at home over the Warriors on March 30. The Chargers improve to 19-21 overall, and will look to carry the momentum from a quality victory into a crucial weekend series with Kentucky Wesleyan, beginning this Saturday at 1 p.m. Hillsdale is currently on the outside looking in of the G-MAC Tournament field, and needs at least a split to stay in contention for a spot.
Saturday also is Alumni Day for the Chargers, and Hillsdale is looking forward to hosting alumni from a variety of eras of Charger baseball for its annual celebration.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop