The Hillsdale College baseball team hung tough with visiting Tiffin early on Friday, but never really got the bats going as the Dragons pulled away late in a 7-0 loss to kick off a home weekend series on Friday afternoon.

The Chargers fell behind 3-0 through three innings, but hung around as starting pitcher Tommy MacLean worked through four scoreless innings to keep Hillsdale in striking distance entering the top of the eighth. Hillsdale, however, struggled to string together hits at the plate, getting a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth, eighth and ninth innings but never finding the timely hit to score while also hitting into two double plays. The Dragons, meanwhile, broke out with four runs in the top of the eighth inning to stretch their lead to seven and put the game away.

Senior outfielder Danny Passinault led off the game with a single and finished 2 for 4 at the plate to lead the Chargers offensively, and freshman shortstop Aaron Jasiak added a single and a stolen base for the Chargers, who finished with six hits on the day. Hillsdale's defense also turned two double plays of its own, with second baseman Tyler Turner, shortstop Jasiak and first baseman Will Shannon collaborating on both plays in the first and second innings.

MacLean pitched well and was the unlucky loser in the game despite throwing seven solid innings with three strikeouts and three walks. The senior bounced back admirably from early trouble to get Hillsdale through the seventh still very much in the game. Daly Skees and Brandon Scott each pitched an inning of relief as well for the Chargers, with Scott striking out two of the five batters he faced in a scoreless inning.

Hillsdale falls to 5-13 on the season, 1-4 in the G-MAC, and still has three more chances against the Dragons to get back on track, starting with a doubleheader including two seven-inning games on Saturday at 1 p.m. at TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium. The Chargers and Tiffin finish the weekend series with a single nine-inning game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Photo by Reva Ludwig