They needed this.
The Charger softball team has played its last four games against teams that are ranked seventh in the nation (Wayne State) and the only undefeated team in conference play thus far (Ohio Dominican). So the team was happy to be able to walk away from Malone University with its first two conference wins of the 2014 season.
Hillsdale defeated the Pioneers 3-1 and 7-6 Saturday afternoon in Canton. The Chargers are now 6-10 overall and 2-6 in GLIAC play, and face Ashland University for a noon twinbill Sunday in Ohio.
In the opener, sophomore pitcher Sarah Grunert got her first win of the season, going all seven innings with five strikeouts and no earned runs allowed.
Powering the team's offense in the opener was freshman center fielder Bekah Kastning, (pictured) who blasted her second home run of the season, a two-run shot that turned out to be the difference in the 3-1 win. She also had a double, and scored a second run in the game thanks to a double by fellow freshman Jessica Knepper.
Game two was a wild back-and-forth affair that saw Hillsdale get a five-run lead, then lose it, only to rally and win in walk-off fashion.
The top of the team's lineup was due up in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied 6-6, and it was the pure speed of sophomore Ainsley Ellison that made the biggest impact in the game's deciding frame.
She opened the inning with an infield single, beating out a throw from shortstop. Kastning followed by hitting a rocket towards first, which resulted in a fielding error, allowing Ellison to advance all the way from first to third on a ball that never left the infield. Kastning then stole second, setting up Knepper for the game-winning at bat. Knepper hit a grounder to deep short, deep enough for Ellison to again beat a throw home, winning the game for the Chargers.
Kastning was 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored, while Knepper also went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and two runs scored. Junior Kate Ardrey had a two-run triple, while junior Melissa Felkey and sophomore Sarah Klopfer each went 2-for-3 in the victory.
Hillsdale's 11 hits in the second game were a season-high.