The Collegian

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports

The Hillsdale College baseball team had a rough weekend, losing three of four at the University of Findlay Saturday and Sunday before getting walloped by Central Michigan University Tuesday.

"We got beat pretty bad," pitcher Joe Schoonover said of Central Michigan. The senior hurler took the 16-8 loss against the Chippewas Tuesday.

Schoonover cruised in the first inning, throwing only seven pitches and picking the first base runner off first. The second inning spelled disaster as Schoonover allowed two home runs and nine runs amid a gusting wind.

"I kind of ran into a brick wall," he said. "Throwing that many pitches in an inning just can't happen."

Despite Schoonover's misstep, the Chargers scored eight runs. Freshman first basemen Brent Opland went 4-5 with 2 RBI.

"I was seeing he ball real well," Opland said. "I didn't want to get behind in the count so I kept hitting the first pitch that was there."

Head coach Paul Noce said the non-conference game was most important for getting players on the field. The Chargers pounded out 14 hits and stayed competitive - providing promising for weekend momentum.

The Chargers fared somewhat better against Findlay, keeping close to the Oilers in all but one of four games last weekend.

"That was a huge letdown," Schoonover said. "A lot of those games were close."

The Oilers blanked Hillsdale in both games Saturday. Charger bats never came alive.

Hillsdale starter Tom Molter, a senior, threw six innings for the loss in game one, giving up two in the first and striking out five. The Charger batters couldn't take advantage, losing 2-0. Molter's Oiler counterpart Caleb Meyer also threw six innings and struck out six Charger batters.

Saturday's second game stayed close until the fourth, when senior Brian Davis gave up four runs. Hillsdale lost 8-0.

"Our pitching continues to keep us in games," Noce said. "We've got to hit."

Opland agreed, saying the recent cold weather might have something to do with it.

"In Florida we were scoring runs like crazy," he said, adding that now they can practice on their own field, allowing them to see live pitching outside on a consistent basis.

Noce said Oilers pitching presented an array of off-speed pitches. Oiler hitters may have benefited from a soggy field, beating out infield ground balls.

Hillsdale finally got on the board against Findlay Sunday, losing game one 7-3 but winning the second. Hillsdale scored three runs in the fifth and three in the sixth en route to a 7-4 win. Senior Noah Turner threw for the win and Dan Rhodes recorded a two-inning save.

"We gave away lots of free outs at bat," Schoonover said of the Findlay contests. "Unless we can make use of those outs, we'll have a hard time beating Wayne."

The Chargers will travel to Detroit this weekend to face the Wayne State University Warriors. The Warriors currently sit atop the GLIAC with an 8-0 record, and are 10-9 overall.

The Chargers practiced on their field for the first time Wednesday and are looking ahead to low-scoring games when their top four starters face Wayne State's strong staff.

"We're going to be well-rested and at full strength going into the weekend," Noce said. "Wayne State has had a tough pre-season schedule. They're a good team, [but] we always seem to have a little success against them."

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