Another contest for the Hillsdale College baseball team, and another member of Hillsdale's impressive freshman class coming up clutch to deliver a Chargers victory.

Hillsdale had two outs and Gaard Swenson had two strikes in the bottom of the ninth of a 3-3 ballgame against Emporia State in St. Louis, Missouri on Friday afternoon when the freshman outfielder blasted a ball over the right-center fence for a walk-off, solo home run to give Hillsdale a 4-3 victory and its sixth straight win.

Swenson's hit was a satisfying end to a back and forth game that saw the Chargers pull ahead three times and the Hornets answer each run. Hillsdale got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, manufacturing a run by Will Lehman after a leadoff hit by pitch and a throwing error to start the inning, and, when Emporia answered in the top of the third, the Chargers pulled ahead again, 2-1, as senior Zak Kent hit a RBI single to score Tyler Sowers after Sowers hit a triple earlier in the inning to get on base.

Emporia evened up the game in the top of the sixth, scoring on an error, and the Chargers responded with another run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Rocco Tenuta led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on two wild pitches, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kent.

The Chargers were once again unable to hold that lead as Emporia scored a run to tie the game in the top of the seventh, but Hillsdale relief pitcher Andrew George did a great job minimizing the damage of a potentially catastrophic situation, entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs and striking out two batters while conceding the run on a sacrifice fly. Preventing further runs in that situation left the door open for Hillsdale in the bottom of the ninth, and Swenson took advantage with the game-ending home run.

Swenson led the Chargers at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and a walk-off home run, and Kent went 2 for 3 as well with a double, a RBI single, and the run-scoring sacrifice fly, as well as a stolen base.

Hillsdale's pitchers once again had a great day as a staff to help the Chargers get the win. Starter Daniel Higdon got the no decision but pitched well, going six innings with four strikeouts and two walks and giving up just one earned run. George had the huge hold in the seventh and went two innings with three strikeouts and no baserunners allowed. Logan McLaughlin (1-0) got the win in relief for the Chargers, pitching a spotless ninth inning with a strikeout. 

The Chargers are now 6-5 overall and above .500 for the first time this season. Hillsdale will look to keep the momentum going with a doubleheader tomorrow, including a big regional contest against host Maryville and a rematch with Emporia State, starting at 12 p.m. ET.

Photo by Steve George