A big comeback helped Hillsdale's baseball team overturn a 7-2 deficit and take a seventh inning lead in Sunday's road contest at Maryville, but the Chargers couldn't keep the Saints off the board from there in a 15-10 loss.
Trailing 3-0 early, the Chargers struck back in the top of the sixth stringing together four straight hits to start the inning, including an RBI double by
Rocco Tenuta and a RBI single by
Zak Kent to cut Maryville's lead to 3-2.
That was the beginning of two innings of offensive fireworks by both teams. A grand slam by the Saints in the bottom of the sixth reestablished Maryville's edge at 7-2. Hillsdale was undaunted, however, responding in the top of the seventh with six runs on a pair of three run home runs by
Rocco Tenuta and
Augie Hutchison to turn the tables and take an 8-7 edge.
Unfortunately, the Saints weren't done, as Maryville put together a massive inning in the bottom of the seventh. The Saints scored eight runs, seven with two outs, to retake the lead and ultimately seal the victory.
The Chargers made one final push in the top of the eighth with a double by
Gaard Swenson leading to a two-run home run by
Tyler Sowers, Hillsdale's third home run of the game, to cut the deficit to 15-10, but the Chargers ran out of outs to try and stage one more comeback.
Sowers led Hillsdale at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a home run, while Tenuta and Hutchison each chipped in a double and a home run and Swenson added a single and a double as well.
Tyler Turner also had a double for the Chargers.
Logan McLaughlin (1-1) took the loss in relief for Hillsdale, who used five pitchers in the contest. Freshman
Gibson Cary got the start, striking out five and giving up two earned runs in two and two-thirds innings, and
Winston Delp recorded the final two outs while giving up just one hit and no earned runs.
Hillsdale (6-8) plays its first home contest of the season on Wednesday when it welcomes Saginaw Valley State for a 4 p.m. contest at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field. It's the Chargers' final non-conference game before the start of G-MAC play this weekend, as Hillsdale travels to Canton to take on Malone in a four-game set.
Photo by Steve George