In a tough midweek contest at home against nationally-ranked Grand Valley State on Wednesday, the Hillsdale College baseball team answered an early strike by the Lakers, but ultimately couldn't match GVSU offensively in a 9-2 defeat.

GVSU took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning, as the Lakers' first four batters all reached safely. The Chargers answered back in the bottom of the first, as Gaard Swenson drew a leadoff walk, followed by a Rocco Tenuta double to right center to get both players in scoring position. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Will Lehman and Augie Hutchison scored both players to cut the deficit to 3-2 and get Hillsdale back in the game.

That was as close as the Chargers would get, however. Winston Delp pitched scoreless second and third innings to keep Hillsdale in contact, but the Chargers couldn't cash in a two-out double by Jake Figman in the bottom of the second, or another double by Rocco Tenuta in the bottom of the third. GVSU took advantage, piling on two more three-run innings in the top of the fourth and top of the fifth to pull away for good. Hillsdale had just one hit in the final six innings, a double by John Hunter in the bottom of the ninth, but missed opportunities at the plate meant the Chargers couldn't keep pace as the Lakers pulled away.

Brenden Smith got the start and took the loss for Hillsdale on a bullpen day for the Chargers that saw Hillsdale use seven pitchers. Delp went the longest, going three innings including the two scoreless ones, and Drew Erdei pitched an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief to continue a string of strong bullpen appearances for him as well. Hayden Hoffpauir, Andrew George, and Patrick MacLean each pitched a scoreless inning as well for Hillsdale.

The Chargers rested three every-day starters at the plate for the loss and got nearly every healthy position player at least one at bat in the contest. Four of Hillsdale's five hits were doubles, with only Augie Hutchison's single in the third inning not going for extra bases. The Chargers also turned two double plays on the day.

Hillsdale is now 17-16 overall and will look to bounce back from this defeat and keep a recent hot streak in G-MAC play going with a big weekend series at rival Findlay on Saturday and Sunday. The opening doubleheader of the series kicks off at 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Field in Findlay, Ohio on Saturday.

Photo by Steve George