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Baseball snaps 15-game skid
By Cheryl Heitzman
Collegian Reporter
The Hillsdale baseball
team finally ended a 15-game drought that began March 28 with
a win against Findlay, 2-1, yesterday. Despite the early triumph,
the Chargers dropped the second game, 13-2.
The team's record is now 9-26 and 4-18 in
the GLIAC. They will go for their 10th win of the season at
home today against Siena Heights at 4 p.m.
A couple of experienced Chargers stepped up
in the first game to lift their struggling team to a desperately
needed victory.
Sophomore Corey Krug (3-6) earned his third
win on a one-run complete game performance, and senior Dan Baker
drove in the winning run with a sixth-inning single to complete
the win for his team.
Sophomore Kyle Wade slapped his third home
run of the year in the first inning to tie up the score early.
A great defensive stand by the Chargers kept Findlay from scoring
again.
"It was kind of nice to get back on track.
The last few practices…felt good," Baker said. "It
loosens everyone on the team up for the next few home games."
Krug said he was excited to get the win because
he had never lost so many games in one season.
"We finally played well all together,
and our bats came alive," Krug said. "It's frustrating
to lose and see everyone else frustrated. So it was nice to
get the monkey off of our back and win."
Despite Krug's losing record, he said he understands
his role on the team better now.
"I just know that I can't give up more
than one or two runs every time out."
The second game featured some wonderful plays
by the young Charger team, despite the lopsided score.
Baker ousted a Findlay player from right field
at home plate to earn the last out of the third, and freshman
catcher Lance Boehm threw out a base runner attempting to steal
second to earn the last out of the fourth.
Junior Charlie Krebs belted a two-run homer
in the second to move the Chargers closer to the Oilers, and
also doubled to center in the fifth to earn his third RBI of
the game. But it was just not enough.
"I'm pretty encouraged by the team,"
coach Paul Noce said. "We had six freshman, a couple of
sophomores and one senior out there at some points, and they
were doing well. They're getting better every day, and that's
great for the future."
Though the GLIAC tournament seems too far
out of reach for the Chargers after dropping four to Wayne State
Sunday, the team has shifted their goals. They want to finish
the season with pride.
"If we win six of the next seven games,
Coach said he'd shave and dye his hair," Krug said. "But
we really just have to play with pride."
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