The Hillsdale College baseball team shook off two disappointing prior weekends and kicked off Great Midwest Athletic Conference play in impressive fashion on the road this weekend, taking three of four from host Thomas More to finish the opening set of games in a tie for first place in the North Division.

The Chargers kicked off the weekend with an 11-8 win in a nine-inning contest against the Saints. Hillsdale fell behind 6-1 despite an early run from Gaard Swenson on a stolen base and a Saints error, but came all the way back, scoring seven runs in the final four innings to pull out the victory. Junior Rocco Tenuta tied the game at eight runs apiece with a solo home run in the top of the eighth, and Hillsdale scored three times in the bottom of the ninth, on a sacrifice fly by Swenson, a steal of home by Billy Porotsky, and a RBI single by Nolan Coppens.

Tyler Sowers hit a RBI double and Tyler Turner a two-run single as Hillsdale used three runs in the third to claw their way back into the contest, and Will Lehman and Billy Porotsky each finished with a RBI single as well. At the plate, Tenuta led the Chargers with two doubles and the tying home run, while Turner and Porotsky each finished with three hits as well, Sowers chipped in two doubles, and Carson Tucker added a double. Swenson also stole three bases for the Chargers, with Porotsky and Aaron Jasiak each swiping a bag apiece.

On the mound, Hayden Hoffpauir earned his first win of the season in relief, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and two walks, and Josh Novak struck out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning to record his first save of the year as well. Jacob Pallo got the start for the Chargers, and Collin Lange also pitched three and a third innings of relief.

In the second game on Friday, Thomas More broke a 2-2 tie with a three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, and held off the Chargers late to win 5-3 in seven innings. Rocco Tenuta had given the Chargers a 2-1 lead with a RBI single in the top of the third inning before Thomas More pulled ahead, and Tyler Sowers got a run back for Hillsdale in the top of the sixth with a RBI single as well. Hillsdale had the potential tying run at the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't get the timely hits necessary to win to materialize.

Tenuta had two of the Chargers' five hits in the loss, and Aaron Jasiak added a single and a stolen base. Patrick MacLean (1-1) took the loss in relief for the Chargers, striking out five and walking two in three innings of work, while starter Brendan Smith pitched three innings with four strikeouts and six walks as well.

Hillsdale came back strong on Sunday, rallying again from an early deficit to take the first contest 7-4 over Thomas More. The Chargers trailed 4-0 after three complete, but closed the gap with a two run single by Tyler Turner in the top of the fourth, and pulled ahead for good on a massive three run home run by Rocco Tenuta in the top of the fifth. Aaron Jasiak added a two-run shot as well in the sixth inning to give Hillsdale some breathing room, and closer Josh Novak earned his second save of the weekend by pitching a scoreless seventh to shut the door on the Saints.

Tenuta was 3 for 4 at the plate to lead the Chargers in the victory, Sowers added a single and a double, and Will Lehman finished with two hits and Billy Porotsky a stolen base as well for Hillsdale.

Freshman Jeff Klominek pitched well for Hillsdale, relieving starter Isaac Scavarda in the second inning and earning his first career victory by going five innings with three strikeouts and just two hits and one earned run conceded.

Hillsdale finished off the series with a 20-10 mercy rule victory in eight innings, riding a 13-run fourth inning to victory. Billy Porotsky started the inning with a lead-off single and later came back up to bat to add a three-run home run in the same frame. Rocco Tenuta also hit a grand slam for the Chargers during the offensive outburst, and Ryan Wiehe and Will Lehman each chipped in a two-run single as well. In total, Hillsdale put up 11 hits and drew three walks in the inning, including a bases-loaded walk drawn by Tyler Turner.

That gave the Chargers a 17-2 lead at the time. Thomas More didn't concede the game, staging a rally to cut the deficit to 17-10, but a three-run home run by Carson Tucker in the top of the eighth stopped the Saints dead in their tracks and triggered the mercy rule margin to end the game an inning early. 

Nolan Coppens had a RBI double and Tyler Sowers a RBI single in the first inning as well for the Chargers, and Wiehe chipped in a RBI single in the third as well. 

Tenuta was again Hillsdale's top hitter in the contest, finishing a triple shy of the cycle with a single, a double and a home run. Swenson and Tyler Turner each added a stolen base as well for the Chargers. Starter Logan McLaughlin went five innings to earn the victory for Hillsdale, striking out four and walking one. Nate Albanese and Collin Tobin each pitched an inning of relief for Hillsdale, and Winston Delp finished the game, pitching the final two and a third innings with four strikeouts and a walk as well.

Hillsdale improves to 7-10 overall, and, at 3-1 in G-MAC play, is one of just two teams sitting at above .500 in the conference and tied with Findlay for first place in the G-MAC North Division. The Chargers next return to Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and TFO Partners Field this coming Friday for the team's home-opening series, with a four game set on tap against visiting G-MAC foe Malone set to start at 1 p.m.