The Hillsdale College baseball team had a big day at the plate on Sunday, but its opponent was even hotter as the Chargers fell to host Montevallo in an 18-14 shootout to wrap up a three game series against the Falcons in Alabama.

Hillsdale outhit Montevallo 16-12 with seven extra base hits and three home runs, but a six-run fifth inning that gave the Chargers an 11-8 lead was trumped by a seven-run sixth inning by the Falcons, who retook the lead for good in that frame.

The Chargers opened the game with a run in the top of the first to take an early lead, but Montevallo quickly answered back with five runs in the first and second innings to pull ahead. Hillsdale got back in the game in the top of the third, with junior Rocco Tenuta hitting a RBI double and freshman Nolan Coppens adding a two-run double in his first collegiate game to cut the deficit to 5-4. 

Montevallo countered with three runs in the bottom of the third to go up 8-4. Hillsdale got a run back in the top of the fourth with a leadoff home run by sophomore Billy Porotsky, then exploded in the top of the fifth with six runs to take an 11-8 lead. Freshman Ryan Wiehe and Coppens opened the fifth with back-to-back home runs, and Hillsdale was able to load the bases behind them, with Gaard Swenson drawing a RBI hit by pitch and Rocco Tenuta topping off the scoring with a three-run triple.

Hillsdale tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth and held a 13-9 lead, but Montevallo caught fire and put up a crooked number of their own in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven to overturn the deficit and take a 16-13 advantage.

The Chargers kept getting runners on base, advancing runners to scoring positions in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but outside of a RBI single by Logan Dichler, were unable to cash those runners in and retake the lead. Montevallo added two insurance runs and held on in the ninth to secure the victory.

Seven Chargers finished with multiple hits in a solid offensive performance. Tenuta finished 2 for 5 with a double, a triple and four RBIs, Coppens finished 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs, and Wiehe was 3 for 5 with the home run.

Porotsky was 2 for 2 with a with a double and a home run as well for Hillsdale, and Dichler, Jake Figman and Aaron Jasiak each added two hits.

The first three of Hillsdale's five pitchers were making their first collegiate appearance on Sunday. Freshman Isaac Scavarda got the start, pitching an inning and a third, before giving way to redshirt freshman Nate Albanese, who struck out four batters in two and two thirds innings. Freshman Jeff Klominek went an inning and a third and took the loss for the Chargers, and Collin Lange and Winston Delp also pitched in relief for Hillsdale.

The Chargers finish opening weekend 1-2 overall. Hillsdale will make another trip south this coming weekend, traveling to Tennessee to take on Lincoln Memorial in a three game set. The two teams kick off the series on Friday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. in Harrowgate, Tennessee.