The Hillsdale College softball team wrapped up its pre-Easter swing through Ohio on a very high note Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers swept Lake Erie College by scores of 10-2 and 9-3 in Painesville, Ohio, to improve to 14-16 overall and 8-12 in the GLIAC. The 3-1 road trip keeps the team within sight of a possible GLIAC Tournament berth.
Hillsdale steps out of conference play Monday afternoon to face Lourdes College in Toledo at 4:00 before returning home to take on Tiffin University starting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Game one was stopped after five innings due to NCAA mercy rules. Hillsdale blew the game open with a seven-run fifth inning, sparked by hitting from all parts of the lineup, and speed on the basepaths.
Sophomore Ainsley Ellison stole four bases, and seven different players scored runs in the game, many of them off errant throws, or simply smart, aggressive play. Sophomore Sarah Grunert and junior Kate Ardrey were each credited with two stolen bases in the first game.
Grunert had a triple, while freshman Jessica Knepper had an RBI double. Ellison had two hits and scored two runs in the opener.
In game two, Hillsdale found more conventional ways to pile up runs. Kastning led off the second inning by belting her third home run of the season to get the Chargers on top.
Junior Melissa Felkey had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a single, double and a two-run home run that produced a career-high 4 RBI on the day. Sophomore Danielle Garceau added a run batted in, and Ellison had a hit and a run scored.