The Hillsdale College baseball team showed its mettle on Sunday, getting the better of host Lake Erie in two tight contests to take the weekend series with the Storm.

The Chargers needed extra innings to claim the first contest, as Hillsdale went to the top of the eighth against Lake Erie with the score tied at one run apiece. In that extra frame, however, the Chargers offense caught fire, plating four runs to earn a 5-1 victory.

Will Lehman put the Chargers ahead for good with a RBI double in the eighth, and Billy Porotsky and Aaron Jasiak each chipped in a RBI single as well to provide important insurance runs for Hillsdale. 

Josh Novak (1-2) retired the Storm in order in the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory and take the win in relief. Novak had a strong outing, pitching three innings with three strikeouts and just two hits and no walks or runs conceded. Patrick MacLean, making his first start of the season, also had a strong shoring, pitching five innings with five strikeouts and just four hits, two walks and one run given up.

Gaard Swenson hit a solo home run in the third to give Hillsdale an early lead, but Lake Erie tied the game in the fourth. Neither team would score again until Hillsdale pulled ahead for good in the eighth.

Tyler Sowers led the Chargers at the plate in the win with a single and a triple, and Rocco Tenuta chipped in a double as well.

In the nightcap, Hillsdale jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings and never trailed. The Chargers took advantage of Lake Erie control issues in the first inning, scoring one run on a wild pitch and adding another on a RBI single by Sowers. Rocco Tenuta scored a third run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly as well.

Lake Erie got two runs back in the bottom of the third on a home run, but the Chargers stayed in front, and added a critical insurance run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Turner. That run proved critical, as Lake Erie pushed one run across in the bottom of the seventh to cut Hillsdale's lead to 4-3, but couldn't get the second to tie the game, allowing the Chargers to take the victory.

Hillsdale's four runs came on just five hits. Along with Sowers' single, Ryan Wiehe and Tyler Turner each added a double as well, and Sowers and Gaard Swenson each chipped in a stolen base.

Logan McLaughlin (2-2) picked up the win with eight strikeouts and four walks in five innings of work, and Nate Albanese earned his first career save by pitching a scoreless seventh inning after relieving Isaac Scavarda, who pitched the sixth inning.

Hillsdale improves to 16-19 with the victories and 11-9 in the G-MAC. The Chargers are tied with Northwood for third place in the G-MAC North Division, and sit a game back of Ashland for second place.

The Chargers have a tough week ahead, as Hillsdale hosts G-MAC leader Findlay for four games this coming Saturday and Sunday. First, however, Hillsdale welcomes Wayne State, a team receiving votes in the ABCA poll, for a midweek contest at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.