The Hillsdale College baseball team rallied from a five-run deficit to win a thrilling 10-9 contest against visiting Wayne State in a midweek outing on Wednesday.
Looking to tune up against a tough non-conference opponent in between critical G-MAC series, the Chargers fell behind the Warriors 6-1 through three and a half innings, with only a RBI double by Jeff Landis getting Hillsdale on the scoreboard.
But the Chargers scored nine straight runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to not only come from behind but take a commanding 10-6 lead.
Getting his first start of the season at catcher, sophomore Tyler Harris kicked off the rally in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single to center field, cutting the Chargers' deficit to 6-3.
Carrying that momentum into the bottom of the fifth inning, the first five Chargers reached base for Hillsdale, which scored six runs on four hits to go from trailing 6-3 to holding a 9-6 advantage. Landis and Harris each hit a RBI single, Nick Stepke drew a bases loaded walk, Cody Kanclerz hit a two-run single and Lewis Beals chipped in a RBI double for Hillsdale in the breakthrough inning.
Aidan Brewer led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, his sixth of the season, for an additional run that would prove to be critical for the Chargers later.
A solid team with a 13-5 record entering Wednesday's contest, Wayne State refused to go quietly, scoring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to cut into Hillsdale's lead, and plating two more runs in the top of the eighth to make it a 10-9 ball-game with just the ninth inning remaining.
Down to their final three outs, the Warriors got the go-ahead run to first base with one out, but Hillsdale closer James Krick delivered under pressure, getting a swinging strikeout and a inducing a fly-out to seal the victory and earn his first save of the season.
On a day where he was celebrating his 21st birthday, Landis had a big contest for the Chargers, going 4 for 5 at the plate, and both Harris and Stepke went 3 for 4 as well for Hillsdale, which finished the contest with a season-high 17 hits. Kanclerz, Beals and Brewer each added two hits as well for the Chargers.
Caleb Biedenharn got the win in relief for Hillsdale, going three innings with six strikeouts, one walk and just two hits and one earned run conceded in a strong performance. Krick pitched both the eighth and the ninth to get the save, with one strikeouts and no earned runs. Brendan Pochmara got the start for Hillsdale, and Brandon Scott, David Toth, Drew Erdei and Marc Bergeron all appeared in relief as well for the Chargers.
With the win, Hillsdale improves to 12-15 overall heading into a critical weekend series with G-MAC leader Tiffin on the road, beginning on Saturday. The Chargers will be the visiting team but will have the advantage of more rested arms, as Hillsdale saved all of its normal starters against the Warriors while the Dragons were forced to use their full rotation in Tuesday and Wednesday make-up contests against Ashland this week.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop
