The Collegian

Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Charles Grimmett Charger senior catcher Ben Davis tries to tag a Saginaw Valley State University player Saturday afternoon. the chargers went 1-3 against Saginaw Valley.

The Charger baseball team needed a hero. In a thrilling win against Saginaw Valley State Saturday afternoon, they had several.

Sophomore Brent Opland knocked a home run to center field in the first inning to start the scoring. After giving up a 3-1 lead by allowing six runs in the third inning, the Chargers responded with an offensive outburst of their own.

Down three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior Brandon Hubbard hit a base-clearing double to tie it at 7-7. Hillsdale went on to take a two-run lead in the inning.

Once again, the Chargers were in a position to lose a one-run game. They were down to three outs to rally from a 10-9 deficit. With two men on base, sophomore Jamie McNeil knocked in the tying run with a single. McNeil went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Sophomore Clay Stephens delivered the big hit giving Hillsdale the 11-10 win when he laid down a bunt single to score sophomore Adam Connell.

"Give the credit to Clay," said Connell. "I just had to run; his was the hard part. [Head] coach [Paul] Noce put a lot of trust in the guy at the plate."

The bullpen also came through in the victory, as Freshman Will Tidwell pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first collegiate win.

"Winning is always a good feeling no matter how good or how bad you are going," Noce said. "Winning is fun. It was good to see the team rewarded for persevering."

Saginaw Valley came back strong in the second and third games of the series, winning 5-3 and 11-2. After the emotionally charged victory, Hillsdale held a 3-2 lead for most of the game, until they gave up three runs and the win in the sixth inning.

After near-perfect weather Saturday, the teams played in chilling rain the next day, and Saginaw Valley outhit the Chargers 14-4, killing the buzz from their earlier victory.

Although the team has been eliminated from playoff contention, Hubbard said they are still motivated to win as many games as possible. Hillsdale's next three opponents are fighting for the last playoff spot, according to Hubbard. By winning a few of those games, they could play the 'spoiler' role and disrupt someone else's postseason plans.

Today the Chargers match up with Northwood, a team they lost two one-run games to earlier this season. They play a four-game series at Wayne State University this weekend, the only GLIAC team they have not yet faced.

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