The Hillsdale College baseball team's offense came to life at the right time on Saturday, as Hillsdale overcame a two-run deficit late in the second game to split a doubleheader with host Lake Erie.

Hillsdale gave up just seven hits in total on the day but fell in the first game, as Lake Erie strung both of its hits in the contest to plate two runs in the first inning for a lead that would hold up through the remainder of the game.

The Chargers put a big threat on in the top of the sixth as Lake Erie's pitcher walked three straight batters to load the bases with one out. Hillsdale got one run across as Tyler Turner scored from third base on an error as Lake Erie tried to turn a double play on a bunt attempt, but the Chargers failed to scratch a second run across to tie the game, and didn't get a better chance to take the lead in the final three innings.

Hillsdale managed just four hits in the loss, with a triple by Turner in the top of the second as the highlight. Brenden Smith (3-4) was the hard-luck loser for the Chargers, giving up just two hits and those two first-inning runs while also finishing with five strikeouts and six walks. Hayden Hoffpauir pitched three strong innings of relief for the Chargers, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced with three strikeouts and no hits or walks conceded.

The Chargers seemed to be in similar jeopardy in the nightcap, as despite taking the lead on a two-run double by Gaard Swenson in the top of the second inning, Lake Erie had once again strung their only two hits of the game together with a walk and a hit by pitch to jump ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. 

Staring down a potential sweep at the hands of the Storm, Hillsdale rallied in the top of the fifth, with Will Lehman kick-starting the Chargers' dormant offense with a one-out single. Hillsdale loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and a walk, then scored a run on a walk drawn by Porotsky that brought Lehman home. The bases still loaded, Aaron Jasiak had the breakthrough hit for the Chargers, smashing a double down the left-field like to clear the bases and give Hillsdale a 6-4 advantage that would hold up.

Lehman put the finishing touches on the Charger win in the top of the sixth, following up back-to-back singles by Rocco Tenuta and Nolan Coppens with a three-run home run over the left field fence to put the game out of reach. Hillsdale held Lake Erie scoreless in the final two innings to take a 9-4 victory and even the series with the Storm.

Hillsdale pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap, led by Lehman, who was 3 for 4 with the thee run home run. Porotsky was 3 for 3 with a double, Tenuta added a single and a double, and Coppens finished with two hits as well.

Jacob Pallo (3-3) earned the win for the Chargers, striking out six, walking one and giving up just five hits in six and two-thirds inning. Winston Delp retired the final batter of the game in relief for Hillsdale.

Hillsdale is now 14-19 overall, 9-9 in the G-MAC and in a three-way tie with Northwood and Tiffin for third place in the G-MAC North Division heading into a critical doubleheader with Lake Erie to conclude the four-game set on Sunday. With second-place Ashland just a game ahead of the Chargers, Hillsdale could make a big move in the standings with a sweep of the Storm, but two losses could drop the Chargers all the way into last place with just three series remaining in the regular season.