March 13 Box Scores
Hillsdale 2, Southwest Minnesota St. 0
March 13 Recap
They say good pitching beats good hitting. The Charger softball team has the "good pitching" part down pat.
Getting terrific performances from junior Kate Ardrey and sophomore Sarah Klopfer, Hillsdale improved to 3-3 on the season with a 2-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State and a 1-0 win over Glenville State in Auburndale, Fla. Thursday afternoon. The team is now off until Saturday, when it faces New Haven University.
This was the first time Hillsdale has recorded back-to-back shutouts of NCAA Division II opponnets since April 23, 2003.
In the win over Southwest Minnesota State, the teams were locked in a scoreless duel until Ardrey got Hillsdale's offense going in the top of the 7th inning. She singled to right field, scoring pinch runner Jessie Fox with what would turn out to be the game-winning run. Freshman catcher Jessica Knepper drew a leadoff walk to open the inning. Fox ran for her, then advanced to second on Sarah Grunert's groundout.
Hillsdale then loaded the bases when sophomore Danielle Garceau drew a walk, scoring pinch runner Kelli Eddie for a valuable second run.
Ardrey got the complete-game shutout, striking out one while scattering just four hits on the day. Freshman shortstop Bekah Kastning had her second multi-hit game of the Florida trip, getting a single and a double for the Chargers.
In the second game, it was Klopfer's turn to toss a complete-game shutout. Hillsdale's lone run came on an RBI infield groundout by junior Courtney Day. The Chargers got hits from Kastning, Grunert, senior Kristi Goron and sophomore Julia Kosco in the victory.
Klopfer picked up her first win of the season, going all seven innings with two strikeouts and just three hits allowed.
Photo courtesy of Adam Henning