The Hillsdale's College baseball team's six-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday, as the Chargers took two tough losses in a pair of games against Maryville and Emporia State.

Although they came up short, Hillsdale battled an NCAA Tournament qualifying team closely on its home field in a 3-2 loss to Maryville to open the day. The Chargers rallied from an early 1-0 deficit after the Saints hit a home run in their first at-bat, tying the game in the top of the second on a RBI double by Gaard Swenson, and pulling ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth on senior catcher John Hunter's first career home run. 

Maryville was able to respond, however, in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together two hits and a walk and paired with a sacrifice fly to plate two runs and pull ahead 3-2. Hillsdale, who had come from behind or broken a tie late in four straight contests, couldn't manage that same magic in a close game against the Saints, as the Chargers got just one baserunner and no hits in the final three innings.

Brandon Scott (1-2) took the loss for the Chargers but pitched well, going all eight innings with nine strikeouts, three walks and just three hits and three earned runs conceded to give Hillsdale a chance in the late innings. Hillsdale, however, couldn't string together hits against a tough Maryville pitcher, with just four total on the game, adding a single apiece from Zak Kent and Will Lehman to Swenson and Hunter's hits.

In the nightcap, Emporia got revenge for Hillsdale's walk-off win against the Hornets the previous day in an 8-2 victory. The Hornets scored two runs in each of the first four innings to build a massive lead, then kept the Chargers from rallying late.

Hillsdale briefly held the lead in the top of the first, as Tyler Sowers led off the game with a double for the Chargers and Kent scored him on a sacrifice fly. Trailing 6-1 in the top of the fourth, Hillsdale was able to add another run on a RBI single by Tyler Turner, but it wasn't enough as those were the only two hits the Chargers mustered in the contest.

Jacob Pallo took the loss and struck out two in an inning of work for Hillsdale, and Aaron Jasiak and Drew Erdei also pitched in relief for the Chargers. Patrick MacLean was Hillsdale's most effective reliever on the day, striking out four and giving up just one hit and no earned runs in three innings of work.

The Chargers are now 6-7 overall and will look to bounce back on Sunday with another shot at host Maryville in the final contest of the weekend, scheduled for a noon Eastern start.

Photo by Steve George