Box Score Box Score
The Hillsdale College baseball team made sure it wasn't leaving Illinois empty-handed this weekend.
After dropping the first two games of a weekend series with host McKendree on Saturday, the Chargers overcame multiple three-run deficits and held off a late Bearcats rally to pull out a 16-12 win on Sunday.
Hillsdale trailed 6-3 after four innings and looked to be headed for a series sweep at the hands of the Bearcats, but the Chargers outscored the Bearcats 12-3 over the next three and a half innings to seize control.
Cody Kanclerz hit an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning and Joe Hardenbergh followed that up with a two-run single to tie the game at 6-all and spark the rally for the Chargers.
Hillsdale tacked on four runs in the sixth inning, with Hardenbergh doubling again to drive in a third run, and Dante Toppi and Rob Zurwaski each adding an RBI single to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead.
After McKendree got a run back in the seventh, Hillsdale scored five runs in the top of the eighth to pull away, led by a two-run single from Kanclerz.
McKendree got a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to attempt a comeback, and loaded the bases with the tying run at the plate in the final inning.
Dillon Manion, however, struck out the last batter to seal the victory for the Chargers.
Hillsdale had a big day at the plate, pounding out 12 hits, led by Kanclerz, who went 3 for 5 with two doubles and four RBIs.
Hardenbaugh was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs, Aiden Brewer and Danny Passinault each chipped in a RBI single, and Nick Stepke and Sean Nemetz each added a double for the Chargers.
Toppi stole two bases, and Jaekob Sallee and Brewer each stole one.
The Chargers used eight pitchers in the victory. Chad Stevens got the win in relief, pitching three innings and striking out three and walking three, while conceding three hits and two earned runs.
Manion recorded a save for Hillsdale, striking out one and walking one in a third of an inning, while Kanclerz got the start for Hillsdale, going two and two-thirds innings with three strikeouts and two walks, and conceding five hits and three earned runs.
Hillsdale improves to 3-6 with the victory over the Bearcats, and is off until next Saturday, when it travels to Urbana to face Davenport in a neutral-site doubleheader starting at noon.
