The Hillsdale College baseball team battled but couldn't overcome two five-run innings by the host Ashland Eagles in an 11-4 loss in a series opener on Friday night.

Despite a leadoff home run by the Eagles, the Chargers got off to a solid start and were able to take the lead in the top of the second, starting the inning with three straight singles from Jake Figman, Ryan Wiehe and Nolan Coppens, and manufacturing two runs on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Turner and a groundout by Billy Porotsky that scored Wiehe to go up 2-1.

Ashland seized control of the game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring five runs and blasting a second home run to go up 6-2. Wiehe scored on a throwing error by the Eagles in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to three runs, 6-3, but Ashland pulled away for good in the bottom of the fourth with five more runs to take an 11-3 edge.

Nolan Coppens hit a RBI single for the Chargers in the top of the sixth and Hillsdale held Ashland scoreless over the next four innings, but it wasn't enough to rally.

Coppens went 2 for 4 with the RBI hit to lead Hillsdale, and Gaard Swenson and Aaron Jasiak each chipped in two singles as well. 

Jacob Pallo (5-4) took the loss for the Chargers, pitching three innings, while Isaac Scavarda and Collin Lange combined to pitch four and a third innings of scoreless relief. Jeff Klominek pitched in relief as well for Hillsdale.

Originally, today's action at Ashland was scheduled as a doubleheader, but due to inclement weather the two teams were only able to get the first game in. Due to a lack of feasible makeup dates with the G-MAC Tournament looming next week, the postponed game will not be made up at a later date.

Hillsdale (21-25, 15-14 G-MAC) will conclude the regular season with a doubleheader tomorrow against the Eagles, beginning at 1 p.m.