Schedule
RV Ashland (33-13, 22-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-24, 15-13 G-MAC) | 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday, May 1 | Hillsdale, MI – Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field
RV Ashland (33-13, 22-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-24, 15-13 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Friday, May 2 | Hillsdale, MI – Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field
RV Ashland (33-13, 22-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-24, 15-13 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Friday, May 2 | Hillsdale, MI – Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field
RV Ashland (33-13, 22-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-24, 15-13 G-MAC) | 12 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3 | Hillsdale, MI – Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field

Links
Live Stats/Stream Links | Hillsdale Roster | Ashland Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Ashland Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
Preview
The Chargers couldn't lock up a G-MAC Tournament spot after dropping a series to Tiffin on the road this past weekend, but still control their own destiny entering the final series of the regular season and a true powerhouse coming to Hillsdale.

One win in four games this weekend likely the gets the Chargers in the tournament, and a split seals the deal. Hillsdale also will have its senior day on Saturday, honoring graduating seniors Drew Erdei, Andrew George, John Hunter, Augie Hutchison, Zak Kent, Kaden Nowak, and Brandon Scott in their final home appearance.

The foe standing between Hillsdale and the G-MAC Tournament is a formidable one, as Ashland seized the G-MAC lead with a series victory over Northwood this past weekend and needs a strong finish to hold off the Timberwolves to the finish line. At 33-13 overall, 22-6 in league play, the Eagles are one of the best teams on Hillsdale's schedule this season.

Ashland is led by a veteran and dominant pitching staff that's spent all of 2025 neck-and-neck with Northwood for the top ERA among G-MAC teams.  The Eagles were loaded with returning first-team All-G-MAC starters Cam Scott and Marshall Leishman returning this season, and got a massive additional boost with the return of Brendan Beaver, the 2023 G-MAC Pitcher of the Year from Ashland who is back with the Eagles after a year at the NCAA DI level. While all three of those pitchers have pedigrees, Ashland's best starter statistically has been converted reliever Hunter Allen, who is a perfect 7-0 on the season with 74 strikeouts and a 1.99 ERA that is second best among G-MAC pitchers. Ashland has multiple strong bullpen options, including closer Chase Carter, who has six saves on the season, and John Essig, who's posted an impressive 0.76 ERA in 21 appearances. Matt Hall and Ethan Stevens are two frequently deployed arms as well for the Eagles.

While Ashland's great staff has gotten the headlines, the Eagles' offense has more than held up its end of the bargain as well, leading the G-MAC in batting average and runs scored. The Eagles returned a great foundation in All-G-MAC honorees Cam Miller, Jeremiah Cangelosi and Gavin Dobbels, and have stood out with a balanced offense that includes six lineup regulars with 23 or more RBIs. Redshirt junior Collin Overholt has been a force in the middle of the lineup with a 1.011 OPS and 10 home runs, while Max Caron (.426 BA, 31 RBIs) and Seth Krueckeberg (.362 BA, 6 HR, 30 RBIs) have also impressed with their combined ability to hit for average and power. The Eagles have an elite defense with a .970 fielding percentage and a huge X-Factor in coach John Schaly, the all-time winningest baseball coach in NCAA DII history.

 After narrowly missing the G-MAC Tournament in 2024, Hillsdale bid farewell to a massive senior class and 16 total players, while adding 15 new freshmen to the roster in a turnover that reshaped the program heading into the 2025 campaign. With just one week to go, the Chargers are closing in on their goal of returning to Prasco Park but have work left to do in the final series.

So far, the Chargers have been led at the plate by senior Zak Kent, who's having a breakout campaign in his final season with a team-leading .340 batting average, 20 extra base hits, including six home runs, and a Chargers-best 46 RBI, while also earning G-MAC Player of the Week honors three weekends ago. Past Kent, the Chargers are leaning on youth offensively, with three freshmen performing well as every-day players. Outfielder Tyler Sowers is off to an excellent start, hitting .333 with 14 extra base hits, and the Chargers hope to get him back after missing a few games recently with an injury. First baseman Will Lehman has 38 RBIs and also has won a G-MAC Player of the Week Award this season, and Gaard Swenson has a team-leading 12 doubles and a walk-off home run as well. Along with those four players, sophomore Rocco Tenuta (.296, 35 RBIs, team best .433 OBP and four home runs) continues to produce, while Aaron Jasiak has come on strong recently and is now batting .289 at shortstop for the Chargers.

On the mound, Hillsdale has a solid ace in sophomore Daniel Higdon, who's got a 4.06 ERA and four wins, and can also turn to veteran Brandon Scott, who has been the starting pitcher in two shutouts this season and has four wins, for solid outings as well. Hillsdale's two other starters, sophomore Jacob Pallo and freshman Gibson Cary, played starring roles two weekends ago in a split against Northwood, with Pallo earning G-MAC Pitcher of the Week honors thanks to a one-hitter. With Pallo and Cary's emergence, Hillsdale now has one of the more formidable starting rotations in the conference. Out of the bullpen, Logan McLaughlin, Hayden Hoffpauir and Andrew George all have had strong appearances, while sophomore Winston Delp, junior Patrick MacLean and Jasiak have steadily improved and become important pieces out of the bullpen as well. Senior Drew Erdei also has come on recently to give the Chargers another option in relief. Hillsdale's staff is backed up by a solid defense, with a .965 fielding percentage.

Hillsdale has had success against Ashland in recent years, with a 16-15 mark against the Eagles since 2011. The Chargers took 3 of 4 against Ashland in 2023 in their last series, and also split with the Eagles in 2022. The two teams didn't meet last season as the Eagles rotated off Hillsdale's schedule.