The Hillsdale College baseball team kept it close against host California (PA) in the final contest of a three-game series on Monday, but couldn't get the bats going in a 3-0 loss to the Vulcans.

Cal (PA) took advantage of a Chargers error to scratch a run across in the bottom of the first inning and take an early lead, then added two insurance runs on a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Hillsdale, on the other hand, was hitless through four innings before senior Jaekob Sallee broke up the perfect game with a single in the top of the fifth. Zak Kent hit another single to get Sallee to second, but the Chargers were unable to find the timely hit to tie the game.

Hillsdale's best chance to score came in the seventh inning, when freshmen Rocco Tenuta and Will Millard each singled and Kent drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Hillsdale's next hitter put the ball in play but was unable to find a hole in the infield, ending the inning on a fielder's choice to end Hillsdale's best threat on the day.

Daly Skees was the hard-luck loser for the Chargers despite a solid start, going five innings with two strikeouts, two walks and one unearned run allowed. Drew Olssen also pitched two innings of scoreless, hitless relief for Hillsdale, and Chad Stevens struck out one batter in an inning of relief as well.

Hillsdale was unable to complete the sweep of the Vulcans, but still leave the weekend having taken two of three contests on the road to improve to 3-4 overall. The Chargers have another big weekend ahead of them starting this Friday, as Hillsdale takes on three Midwest Regional foes in four days with two contests against Maryville, a neutral-site game against McKendree, and a game at Missouri-St. Louis in a swing through Missouri.

Photo by Steve George