The Hillsdale College baseball team bounced back from a tough series opener on Friday with two impressive, hard-fought wins over visiting Tiffin in doubleheader action on Saturday at TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium.

Hillsdale made clear early in the first game that Saturday was a new day at the plate for the Chargers, as Hillsdale plated seven runs in the first three innings to pull away for an 8-3 victory after being shut out the day before. The Chargers cashed in on back-to-back walks and a Tiffin error with a two-run double to right field by senior Joe Hardenbergh to seize the lead in the bottom of the first inning, then compounded the hurt for the Dragons with a three-run double by junior Will Shannon after loading the bases in the bottom of the second inning. 

The Chargers added to their lead in the bottom of the third on another double by freshman Rocco Tenuta to build a 7-1 advantage. Tiffin made a play to get back in the game in the top of the fifth with two runs, but Hillsdale countered with a bases-loaded walk by Hardenbergh to score Jaekob Sallee in the bottom of the sixth and was able to hold the Dragons scoreless over the final two innings to secure the victory.

Senior Danny Passinault and Shannon each finished with a single and a double to lead Hillsdale at the plate, and Sallee added two stolen bases as well.

Freshman Daniel Higdon earned the first victory of his collegiate career with a solid start on the mound, striking out two, walking two and scattering five hits and two earned runs across five innings of work. Senior Chad Stevens pitched well in two innings of relief, striking out three of the six batters he faced and not allowing a baserunner.

In the nightcap, Hillsdale rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the first to force extra innings and eventually walk off in a 5-4 thriller to secure a sweep of the day.  The Chargers cut into Tiffin's early lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double by Jeff Landis that scored Sallee, and a sacrifice fly by Will Millard to score Shannon, making it 3-2 Tiffin.

Hillsdale tied the game in the top of the sixth, as Danny Passinault drove in Joe Hardenbergh on a single to left field to pay off Hardenbergh's single to start the inning. Tiffin got the go-ahead run to third base in the top of the seventh, but a miracle diving catch by Passinault in center field for the third out saved the day for the Chargers and helped send what was scheduled as a seven inning game to the top of the eighth. 

Playing with international tiebreak rules in extra innings, Tiffin was able to push the courtesy runner on second base across to take a 4-3 lead, but another brilliant catch in the outfied by Passinault helped get Hillsdale out of a jam. Trailing in the bottom of the eighth and needing a run to stay alive, Hillsdale got courtesy runner Augie Hutchison to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hardenbergh, then, with two outs remaining, Passinault came up with a big moment at the plate, hitting a triple to right field to score the tying run and even the game at 4-apiece.

With the winning run at third base, Tiffin misplayed a ground ball by shortstop Aaron Jasiak that allowed Passinault to score and walk off the 5-4 victory.

Passinault led the Chargers at the plate once again, going 2 for 4 with the critical triple in the eighth, and Hardenbergh was 2 for 2 with a double as well. On the mound, Devin Murray earned the win in relief, pitching three solid innings with three strikeouts, two walks and no earned runs. Drew Olssen got the start for Hillsdale, striking out two and walking three in five innings of work for the Chargers.

Hillsdale improves to 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the G-MAC with the victory, and will look to win the series with the Dragons tomorrow, Sunday, with a single nine inning contest to conclude the weekend at 1 p.m.

Photo by Steve George