The baseball team closed out its last home stand of the year with two losses against conference rival Grand Valley State University, and a series sweep verses Rochester College. Hillsdale is now 14-22 in the season and 5-15 in the GLIAC.
On Apr. 19, the Hillsdale Chargers matched up for a doubleheader against nationally-ranked Grand Valley, falling twice to GVSU. Hillsdale faced All-American pitchers Jeremy Dow and Grant Payton, and only managed eight hits between the two games.
In game one Dow pitched a shutout, allowing only three Charger hits. Hillsdale senior Andy Lovell pitched a strong game for the Chargers, giving up seven hits and striking out five batters over seven innings. Grand Valley jumped out in front with a 2-0 lead in the first inning and scored again in the fifth, making the final score a 4-0 Grand Valley win.
Head Coach Paul Noce wasn’t surprised at the tough competition, or the fact that Hillsdale struggled at the plate.
“This is the best team in the conference and they have two All-American pitchers,” he said. “They are just a very good team and we just didn’t get the job done.”
Noce said he was pleased with the Charger effort in game two, as Hillsdale was able to get within two runs of Grand Valley with the help of a sixth-inning rally.
“We were able to hit their next guy [Payton] in game two,” Noce said. “It might be the most hits he’s given up all season.”
In game two Hillsdale managed six hits and scored four runs, one in the third inning and three in the sixth. Senior Larry Jacques led Hillsdale at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Sophomore Brandon Hubbard, junior Matt Dillon, and senior Kyle Wade each had a hit and a run scored.
Senior Corey Krug pitched six innings, striking out six and walking three in the Charger loss. The final score was a 6-4 Grand Valley win.
On Saturday, Hillsdale took a break from conference competition and played Rochester College, winning its last home series of the year with a doubleheader sweep.
“It was nice to see us hit the ball,” Noce said, referring to the combined 30 hits that the Chargers put together against Rochester. “It was a nice confidence booster. These were two wins we desperately needed.”
In game one Lovell pitched a one run game, giving up only three hits and striking out a season-high 10 batters to earn his 22nd career win. Jacques and sophomore Alex Kidman both drove in four runs, and Hubbard and junior Lance Boehm both drove in two a piece.
The final score was a 17-1 Hillsdale victory.
In game two Krug earned his 21st career win, pitching a five inning shutout. He allowed two hits and struck out six in the effort. Jacques and Kidman led Hillsdale at the plate again with Jacques going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Kidman hitting 3-for-4 with one RBI. Hubbard, Boehm and junior Dennis Czuchaj each drove in one run. The final was a 7-0 Hillsdale win.
The Chargers must win the rest of their six conference games to have a shot at the GLIAC tournament in two weeks. They play a non-conference game against Ashland University Wednesday, followed by a two game GLIAC series against Gannon University in Erie, Pa. this weekend.