Schedule
Lake Erie (16-11, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (14-14, 7-5 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, April 5 | Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field – Hillsdale, MI
Lake Erie (16-11, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (14-14, 7-5 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, April 5 | Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field – Hillsdale, MI
Lake Erie (16-11, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (14-14, 7-5 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Sunday, April 6 | Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field – Hillsdale, MI
Lake Erie (16-11, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (14-14, 7-5 G-MAC) | 4 p.m. ET Sunday, April 6 | Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field – Hillsdale, MI
 
Links
Live Stats/Stream Links | Hillsdale Roster | Lake Erie Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Lake Erie Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
Preview
Hillsdale split with visiting Thomas More to remain above .500 in G-MAC play three weeks into the season, and are set for a huge home weekend as the Chargers welcome Lake Erie. Hillsdale currently sits in fifth in the overall G-MAC standings, but with their final five conference series all coming against teams in the top half of the league, the Chargers can't afford to fall behind in the race for a spot in the G-MAC Tournament.

At 16-11 overall and 8-4 in G-MAC play, Lake Erie is off to its best start since 2019 and has won back-to-back series in conference entering the weekend. A lineup and pitching staff that struggled the last couple years has come of age and rounded into a real contender as the 2025 season has progressed.

While Lake Erie's batting average is an unimpressive-on-paper .262, the Storm punch above their weight with real power in the lineup. Five Storm batters have multiple home runs, led by senior stalwart Graham Solak, who's hitting .270 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs in his best season to date at the plate. Sophomore Mitchel Szymczak has five home runs and a team-high 22 RBIs as well, while sophomore Travis Yankovich is hitting .400 with a 1.065 OPS at the front of the lineup. Another impressive regular is UIndy transfer Garrett Esposito, who is hitting .388 with a team-best 1.227 OPS.

The biggest area of improvement for Lake Erie has been on the mound, as the Storm have cut two runs off their ERA from 2024 to go from one of the G-MAC's worst staffs to one of their best. After playing a small role as a freshman, Alex Caudill has emerged as a key starter for Lake Erie with a 3-1 record and a 3.18 ERA, while returning starters Robert Helt and Dominic Poltrone have both made massive strides from last season. Freshman Gregory Kennedy has been a respectable fourth starter for Lake Erie. In the bullpen, Nichols transfer Brandon Metivier is a real-deal closer for the Storm, with four saves, while Floyd McKenna, Hunter Bays and AJ Dallmayer are all regularly deployed arms.

Hillsdale enters the week 14-14, having split conference series with Malone and Thomas More and taking three of four on the road at Ohio Dominican. 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 will reshape the program heading into the upcoming campaign.

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 .387 batting average, 11 extra base hits, and a Chagers-best 32 RBI. 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 .360 with 12 extra base hits, first baseman Will Lehman has 25 RBIs and won a G-MAC Player of the Week Award, and Gaard Swenson has 12 extra base hits and a walk-off home run as well. Along with those four players, sophomore Rocco Tenuta (.274, 28 RBIs, team best .441 OBP and four home runs) continues to produce as Hillsdale has shown excellent upside offensively and now seeks to build consistency for the conference run.

On the mound, Hillsdale has a solid ace in sophomore Daniel Higdon, who's got a 3.44 ERA and kept Hillsdale in every one of his starts, and can also turn to veteran Brandon Scott, who has been the starting pitcher in two shutouts this season, for solid outings as well. Sophomore Jacob Pallo has been improving each week and looks set as the third starter, and freshman Gibson Cary has emerged as another starting option for the Chargers along with Aaron Jasiak. Out of the bullpen, Logan McLaughlin, Hayden Hoffpauir and Andrew George all have had strong appearances, while sophomore Winston Delp and junior Patrick MacLean have steadily improved and become important pieces out of the bullpen as well. Hillsdale's staff is backed up by a solid defense, with a .967 fielding percentage that's among the top teams in the G-MAC so far.

Hillsdale and Lake Erie have had a tight series since 2012, with the Chargers holding a 20-17 edge by virtue of a 3-1 series victory last season. Hillsdale has won 12 of its last 13 games over the Storm entering this weekend and will hope to keep that success going this weekend with a set of important G-MAC games against Lake Erie on tap.