After dropping a 3-2 ballgame at home to Saginaw Valley State on March 12, Hillsdale returned the favor to the Cardinals on Tuesday.

The Chargers jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on late to beat SVSU by the same 3-2 scoreline they'd lost by three weeks earlier and split the season series with a Cardinals team that's receiving votes in the ABCA poll.

Hillsdale grabbed the early advantage in the top of the third, making SVSU pay for a leadoff error that extended the inning and opened the door for Rocco Tenuta and Will Lehman to each hit RBI singles to give the Chargers a 2-0 edge.

The Chargers would tack on what ended up being a vital third run in the top of the fourth, as a leadoff single by John Hunter and a sacrifice bunt by Jake Figman allowed Tyler Turner to get Hunter home on a RBI groundout. That gave Hillsdale a 3-0 edge, but SVSU would close the gap with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, and from there came a fight to hold on to a now one-run lead.

The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever Winston Delp was able to induce a double-play ball hit to the third baseman to retire the side and get out of the jam with no damage done.

SVSU had one more chance with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, but once again the Chargers bullpen was up to the task, as reliever Patrick MacLean got the SVSU batter to hit a high fly ball to right field for the game-clinching out.

In finishing the game, MacLean recorded his first career save, pitching the ninth inning with one walk and no hits or runs allowed. Sophomore Aaron Jasiak (1-1) was the starter and earned the victory, pitching four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Winston Delp pitched a scoreless inning or relief, and Drew Erdei and Andrew George each pitched in relief as well.

Gaard Swenson had a double to lead the Chargers at the plate, as seven different players finished with a single hit in the victory for Hillsdale. 

The win over a high-quality Saginaw Valley State team is a momentum boost for the Chargers, who get back to .500 at 14-14 overall thanks to the victory. The Chargers will look to build off this performance this weekend, with a four game set against G-MAC North foe Lake Erie at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field this Saturday and Sunday, starting with a nine-inning game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Photo by Steve George