The Hillsdale College baseball team put together a spirited rally in the final innings of Friday's season-opening contest against Wayne State to force extra innings, but came up short to the Warriors in a 6-5 defeat.

Playing at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, North Carolina, the Chargers struggled to break through early against returning All-American pitcher Karter Fitzpatrick, who held the Chargers scoreless through six innings. Senior Joe Hardenbergh's leadoff triple in the bottom of the seventh helped Hillsdale get on the board when he was driven in on a ground-out by freshman Rocco Tenuta, but the Chargers still trailed 5-1 entering the bottom of the eighth.

Once Hillsdale got past Fitzpatrick, however, the Chargers pounced on Wayne State's relievers. After senior Danny Passinault reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the eighth, freshman Aaron Jasiak blasted a two-run home run to cut Hillsdale's deficit to 5-3.

The Chargers missed an opportunity to add more runs with the bases loaded later in the eighth, but came out firing in the bottom of the ninth. Down to their final two outs, freshman Tyler Turner singled on a ground ball to the pitcher to get on base, and Passinault brought him home with a double to cut Wayne State's lead to 5-4. On the very next play, Jasiak struck again, hitting a single to centerfield to drive Passinault home and tie up the contest. 

With runners in scoring position, however, Hillsdale couldn't find the walk-off hit it needed, and couldn't get runners in scoring position again in three extra innings. Wayne State broke the deadlock in the top of the 12th, scoring the winning run on a sacrifice fly after a leadoff triple to start the inning.

Hillsdale finished with eight hits on the day, led by two hit days from Jasiak, Hardenbergh and Turner. The Chargers started four freshmen in the field on Friday and had a fifth on the mound in right handed pitcher Daniel Higdon, who went five innings with five strikeouts, six walks and three earned runs conceded. Brandon Scott took the loss in relief for the Chargers despite pitching three and a third solid innings, striking out four, walking one and giving up one earned run. Senior Drew Olssen also pitched three innings of relief for the Chargers and Andrew George pitched two-thirds of an inning as well.

Hillsdale (0-1) will be back in action tomorrow in Ting Stadium with a pair of games against the Warriors, starting at noon, as the Chargers look to bounce back and try to take the series lead entering the final contest on Sunday.

Photo by Steve George