Hill gets CG victory, Hathaway homers 3 times in doubleheader vs. Illinois Valley

GALESBURG — Nathan Hill went the distance in Game 1, and Chuck Hathaway totaled three home runs and seven RBIs on the afternoon as the Sandburg baseball team split an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader with Illinois Valley on Monday. The teams will complete a home-and-home series today at IVCC.

GAME 1
Sandburg 13, Illinois Valley 5
Illinois Valley 102     200     0          —        5
Sandburg      300     613     x          —        13
W-Nathan Hill 7 IP, 5 K, 1 BB

Chargers highlights
• Damien Snell's leadoff homer kicked off a three-run first inning for the Chargers. Colton Allen singled in Jameson Dickerson for a 2-1 lead, and Carter Ramsey's two-out double to right made it 3-1.
• Down 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Sandburg took the lead for good with a six-run frame. Dickerson singled in two runs to even the score, and Hathaway cracked a grand slam two batters later to put the Chargers ahead 9-5.

Sandburg standout
Though the Chargers collected 11 hits (six for extra bases), starter Nathan Hill turned in a big performance on the mound. The freshman from Brantford, Ontario, went a season-high seven innings while earning a complete-game victory. Hill allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one. He threw 94 pitches, with 62 going for strikes.

Other top Chargers
• Hathaway — Grand slam, two runs
• Snell — Solo home run, walk, two runs
• Dickerson — 2 for 4, double, two runs, two RBIs
• Carter Chapin — 2 for 4, double, two runs, RBI
• Brady Veselack — 2 for 3, double, walk, two runs, RBI

GAME 2
Illinois Valley 14, Sandburg 13
Illinois Valley 025     130     3          —        14
Sandburg      134     311     0          —        13
L-Brandon Barrientos 1.2 IP, 3 K, 2 BB

Chargers highlights
• Trailing 7-4 in the third, Hathaway led off with a homer to jump-start a four-run rally. With two on and two out, Veselack doubled to center to tie the contest at 7-7. After a Snell walk, Dickerson's single to left put the Chargers ahead 8-7.
• The Eagles evened the game again with a run in the top of the fourth, but Hathaway added another leadoff homer in the bottom half for a 9-8 advantage.
• Tied at 11 in the fifth, Dickerson reached on an error to open the inning, moved to third on Allen's single and scored the go-ahead run on Hathaway's sacrifice fly to center. Nathan Hill added a leadoff dinger in the sixth for a 13-11 lead, but the Eagles scored three runs in the seventh and held on to avoid the sweep.

Sandburg standout
Hathaway was 3-for-4 in Game 2, homering twice and driving in three runs. In the doubleheader, the freshman outfielder from Deer Creek-Mackinaw High School was 4 for 8 with three home runs, four runs scored, seven RBIs and 13 total bases. In Sandburg's last five contests, Hathaway has hit .471 (8 for 17) with five home runs and 13 RBIs.

Other top Chargers
• Veselack — 2 for 3, double, walk, two runs, four RBIs, stolen base
• Allen — 2 for 5, double, two RBIs
• Burke Miller — 2 for 2, two walks, two runs

UP NEXT
2 p.m. today at Illinois Valley (nine innings)

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