The Hillsdale College baseball team was within striking distance but couldn't quite get over the hump in two close losses at Kentucky Wesleyan on Monday, splitting the weekend series with the Panthers after earning victories in both Saturday contests.

The Chargers made an impressive rally in the first contest on Monday after falling behind 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hillsdale plated seven runs in the top of the fifth to not only get back in the game but take a one-run lead. After hitting two home runs -- including the game-winner in extra innings -- the previous day, junior Joe Hardenbergh came through again for the Chargers with a three-run bomb in the fifth. 

That hit, coupled with a two-run single by Lewis Beals and a RBI double by Evan Fauquher, allowed Hillsdale to go up 7-6 in the contest, but Kentucky Wesleyan struck back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 7-apiece, then went ahead for good with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Hillsdale had the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh, but the Panthers turned a double play to end the game and clinch a 9-7 KWC victory.

Beals went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Chargers in the contest, and Jaekob Sallee added a double as well. Chad Stevens took the loss in relief for Hillsdale, pitching an inning and a third with two strikeouts, no walks and one earned run conceded. Paul Brophy got the start for Hillsdale, striking out two and walking one in four innings of work, and Nate Waligora also pitched in relief for the Chargers.

In the nightcap, solid pitching kept the Chargers within striking distance, but three runs scored on errors and a lack of success at the plate cost Hillsdale in a 4-1 defeat.

A Hillsdale error in both the first and second innings led to three combined runs for Kentucky Wesleyan, and while Beals was able to cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning with a RBI single, scoring Danny Passinault, the Chargers were unable to close the gap further, stranding seven runners on base and finishing with just six hits. 

Cody Kanclerz led Hillsdale at the plate with two of those hits in the contest. Devin Murray took the loss on the mound for Hillsdale, striking out one, walking two and giving up no earned runs in an inning and two thirds of work. Daly Skees made a quality relief appearance for Hillsdale, striking out three, walking one and giving up just three hits and one earned run in five and a third innings of work, and Logan Simon pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Chargers as well.

The Chargers are now 8-14 overall, 3-5 in the G-MAC after their first two weekend series in conference play. Hillsdale next hosts Tiffin looking for a big weekend at home against the Dragons to solidify its spot in the G-MAC standings, with the series starting on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Photo by Steve George