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Hillsdale College

Baseball

Late-Inning Clutch Play Gives Chargers Sunday Split With Panthers

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1 box score: Kentucky Wesleyan 6, Hillsdale 3

Game 2 box score: Hillsdale 4, Kentucky Wesleyan 3 (10 inn.)

The game of baseball can often be played at its best when mental and physical skill come together for a short period of time.

Such was the case for Hillsdale College junior Jake Hoover in a big situation Sunday.

Hoover drew a walk, stole second, then scored from second on a botched third-strike catch and overthrow to provide the game-winning run for his team in a 4-3 win over Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, resulting in a Sunday doubleheader split.

A multi-skilled baseball player, Hoover used his excellent hitting eye to draw a leadoff walk as the 10th inning unfolded under quickening darkness. He then used his speed to steal second base during the next at bat. A swing-and-miss on strike three by Matt Granzotto was mishandled, allowing Granzotto to advance to first. But the overthrow was spotted by the heads-up Hoover, who then raced around from second base to score the go-ahead run for the Chargers. The sequence was emblamatic of what a baseball talent Hoover is.

Closing out the win was freshman pitcher Caleb Biedenbarn who won his first collegiate game with a strong relief appearance. He went three innings with four strikeouts and no hits allowed in relief of starter Sawyer Allen.

The Panthers scored once in each of the first three innings, but Allen shut them down from there, scattering six total hits in the start.

Christian Rodino had a triple, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Colin Boerst drove in two runs and scored one, while Hoover was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Hillsdale outhit Kentucky Wesleyan in both games - 7-5 in the first and 8-6 in the second - but three errors were costly to the Chargers in Sunday's opener. 

Joe Hamrick turned in a solid relief outing on the mound, pitching 3.2 innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed.

Jake Rhodes hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth to account for Hillsdale's offense. Dylan Lottinville and Dante Toppi scored on Rhodes's round-tripper. James Krick was 2-for-3 and Michael Mitchell had a pinch hit for Hillsdale.

PHOTO: Kenny Badylak/Kentucky Wesleyan College

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Players Mentioned

Sawyer Allen

#32 Sawyer Allen

P
6' 0"
Sophomore
Colin Boerst

#9 Colin Boerst

INF
6' 2"
Senior
Matt Granzotto

#12 Matt Granzotto

INF
5' 11"
Freshman
Joe Hamrick

#19 Joe Hamrick

P
6' 2"
Senior
Jake Hoover

#3 Jake Hoover

INF
5' 11"
Junior
James Krick

#11 James Krick

1B
6' 5"
Sophomore
Dylan Lottinville

#27 Dylan Lottinville

OF/1B
6' 0"
Senior
Michael Mitchell

#25 Michael Mitchell

OF
5' 10"
Senior
Jake Rhodes

#15 Jake Rhodes

OF
6' 0"
Junior
Christian Rodino

#20 Christian Rodino

OF
5' 6"
Senior
Dante Toppi

#14 Dante Toppi

OF
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Sawyer Allen

#32 Sawyer Allen

6' 0"
Sophomore
P
Colin Boerst

#9 Colin Boerst

6' 2"
Senior
INF
Matt Granzotto

#12 Matt Granzotto

5' 11"
Freshman
INF
Joe Hamrick

#19 Joe Hamrick

6' 2"
Senior
P
Jake Hoover

#3 Jake Hoover

5' 11"
Junior
INF
James Krick

#11 James Krick

6' 5"
Sophomore
1B
Dylan Lottinville

#27 Dylan Lottinville

6' 0"
Senior
OF/1B
Michael Mitchell

#25 Michael Mitchell

5' 10"
Senior
OF
Jake Rhodes

#15 Jake Rhodes

6' 0"
Junior
OF
Christian Rodino

#20 Christian Rodino

5' 6"
Senior
OF
Dante Toppi

#14 Dante Toppi

6' 2"
Junior
OF