Softball can sometimes be a loud sport. Hillsdale College sophomore Sarah Grunert let her pitching make all the noise that was necessary Sunday afternoon.
Grunert completed a magnificent weekend on the hill by tossing a complete-game shutout in Hillsdale's 1-0 win in the second half of a doubleheader with Ashland University. The Eagles won a hard-fought battle 5-3 in the opener.
Hillsdale is now 7-11 overall and 3-7 in conference play. The team will finally play its home opener Thursday when it hosts Urbana University in a non-league doubleheader.
Grunert won three games this weekend, one in relief and two starts, the best of which came Sunday when she shut down the Eagles to the tune of five hits and two strikeouts. She was aided by a defense that turned in an error-less performance in the contest.
The Chargers' lone run came when freshman Jessica Knepper lined a single to center, scoring freshman Bekah Kastning, who reached base on a fielder's choice, then stolen second base to set up the run-scoring situation.
Knepper was 2-for-2 with a walk in the game two win, while Grunert and freshman Kelli Eddie each had hits. Knepper has increased her batting average from .207 to .275 in the past five games, as her hard hit balls are starting to find grass instead of gloves.
In game one, Ashland jumped out to a 4-0 lead through two innings, but the Chargers kept battling to the end. Eddie had her first collegiate RBI, while Kastning, junior Melissa Felkey and sophomore Sarah Klopfer each had doubles. Felkey wrapped up an excellent weekend by going 2-for-2 with a run scored