An extra inning offensive explosion in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader in Columbus was the prelude to a dominant showing at the plate for the Hillsdale College baseball team in a sweep of host Ohio Dominican that gave the Chargers the series victory.

Hillsdale scored six runs in the top of the eighth in the opening contest to blow open a 3-3 tie in extra innings in a contest originally scheduled to go seven.

The Chargers were still reeling from failing an opportunity to close the game in the bottom of the seventh leading 3-1, as ODU scored twice to force extras. But Hillsdale came back with a vengeance in the top of the next inning, scoring the international tiebreak runner on a perfectly placed bunt by Tyler Turner that opened the floodgates offensively in what had been a low-scoring contest. Hillsdale followed up with five more runs, adding a two-run double by Billy Porotsky, a two-run single by Rocco Tenuta, and a RBI single by Zak Kent to pull away.

ODU made one final comeback attempt in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs and loading the bases with the tying run at the plate, but Andrew George struck out the final batter to seal the victory for the Chargers and earn his first save of the season.

Hillsdale had led for much of the game with tactical plays, going up 1-0 in the first on a sacrifice fly by Kent and retaking the lead in the top of the second on a bases-loaded throwing error that scored a runner from third for the Chargers.

With a 2-1 lead, Hillsdale kept ODU in check for the next five innings, and added an insurance run on a Will Lehman RBI single in the top of the seventh. Despite the 3-1 lead, ODU came back to tie the game and force the extra-inning drama.

Kent was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs for the Chargers, and Tyler Sowers, Augie Hutchison and Porotsky each chipped in a double as well.

Hayden Hoffpauir (2-0) earned the win in relief for Hillsdale, pitching an inning and a third before giving way to George for the final out. Jacob Pallo got the start for the Chargers and went three and a third innings with two strikeouts, four walks, and no earned runs conceded, and Aaron Jasiak pitched three innings as well.

Fired up by the extra-inning win, Hillsdale stayed hot in the nightcap, crushing ODU at the plate with nine runs in the first two innings on the way to a 16-0 victory. 

Hillsdale pounded out 11 hits and also took advantage of control issues by the Panthers pitchers, scoring six runs on ODU walks, hit by pitches or wild pitches, and earning 26 total free bases on those plays from ODU in the victory.

Augie Hutchison was 2 for 3 with two RBI singles for Hillsdale in the win, Zak Kent chipped in a two run single, and Will Lehman and Tyler Turner each chipped in a RBI single as well. Billy Porotsky added a single and a double and Rocco Tenuta finished with two hits as well for Hillsdale.

Brandon Scott (3-2) earned the win and was part of a second straight shutout in games her started, going six innings with six strikeouts, three walks and just two hits allowed. Brenden Smith pitched a scoreless seventh inning, surrendering no hits and striking out two of the four batters he faced.

The strong Sunday is important for the Chargers, as it improves them to 11-12 overall and, more importantly, gets them above .500 in the G-MAC at 5-3 in conference play. Next up, Hillsdale returns home to host Thomas More University in a four game set next Saturday and Sunday in the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the baseball field.

Photo by Steve George