PITTSBURGH, Pa. - February 18, 2023 - Chatham Baseball began the 2023 campaign with a doubleheader sweep of the Hilbert College Hawks on Saturday at West Field. The Cougars won game one 5-4 in the 12th inning and took the second game by a 10-9 score in seven. Chatham has now started 2-0 in each of head coach Nic Rush's first two seasons.

After surrendering two runs in the top of the first, including a lead-off homer, the Cougars clawed back. They got on the board in the bottom of the third after junior outfielder Dylan Vogel scored on a passed ball and then scored two more in the bottom of the fourth on a two-RBI single from senior third baseman Brandon Griener that drove in graduate catcher Caleb Lehman and graduate outfielder Nico Cuello.

Hilbert would regain the lead with a two-run sixth, but Chatham tied the game at 4 in the seventh on a single from sophomore first baseman Quinn Burke that brought in Vogel.

The two teams remained at 4 for the next four innings, until sophomore infielder Sammy Helton walked it off in the 12th with a single to center that scored Lehman.

Sophomore RHP Drew Schreck started on the mound for Chatham, allowing two earned runs and five hits in 4.0 innings of work. In relief, sophomore pitcher Dawson Morrow threw 5.0 scoreless innings and struck out five. Sophomores Kole Mayle and Gavin Phillips each threw a shutout inning in extras, with Phillips earning the win.

Junior outfielder Frankie DeLuca went 3-4 in game one. Griener went 2-4 with two RBI, while Lehman and Vogel each scored twice.

In game two, Hilbert once again jumped out to an early lead, this time with a three-run first, but once again, Chatham countered. Sophomore catcher Tyler Cote notched an RBI double in the second and Lehman drove junior infielder Benny Dottle with a single in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.

After Hilbert regained a three-run lead with a two-run fourth inning, Chatham stormed back with five in the fifth, thanks in part to RBI singles from Vogel and Dottle and a two-RBI triple from Cote.

Now down 7-5, the Hawks rallied to score two in the next half inning to knot things up, but the Cougars put up a three spot in the sixth with two runs on two wild pitches and a third run on yet another RBI extra-base hit from Cote to take a 10-7 lead. Hilbert scored two in the top of the seventh but were not able to complete the rally.

Graduate pitcher Zack Oddi started the second game on the mound to make his Chatham debut. He allowed five runs (four earned) and struck out four in 3.1 innings. Freshman right-hander Dimitri Boumis earned his first career win in his collegiate debut and Mayle pitched again in the second game, earning the save.

Cote had a game to remember at the plate in game two, going 3-4 with two doubles, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored. Dottle went 2-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored.

Baseball heads to Florida next week for the RussMatt Invitational, where they will play a total of eight games starting next Saturday against Calvin University.