Only one team finished the 2014 regular season hotter than the Hillsdale College softball team. And although the Chargers were unable to secure a conference postseason berth, there were plenty of smiles and optimism after the game, looking to the future.
Hillsdale finished off the season on a great note, sweeping Ferris State University by scores of 4-3 and 8-3 on a sun-drenched day at Johnny Williams Field. The Chargers finished the season 13-13 in the GLIAC, but with an overall record of 21-17. The team's .553 winning percentage is its best mark since 2002, and with a huge number of freshmen and sophomores in the regular starting lineup, the future indeed looks bright for this group.
The Chargers won nine of their last 10 games, but none in more dramatic fashion than thw two they played Saturday afternoon. Both games were decided in the seventh inning, and it was the team's bats, which came alive so strongly over the last two weeks, coming through to get the job done.
Sophomore catcher Danielle Garceau hammered a double that scored Jessie Fox, giving the Chargers a walk-off win in the opener. After losing five walk-off conference games throughout the season, getting a win in this fashion, on the season's last day, was especially sweet.
Garceau sat out Friday's games versus Grand Valley State, but returned in a big way, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and two doubles. Junior Kate Ardrey raised her batting average by nearly 140 points in the past 16 days, also smacked two doubles, and was 3-for-3 in the game. Freshman Jessica Knepper also had two doubles in the first game.
Game two was a tightly played 3-3 ballgame with two outs in the top of the seventh inning when the Chargers took full advantage of an opportunity, and put the game out of reach.
With two outs in the inning, the Bulldogs committed a fielding error, allowing junior Jessica Day to score the go-ahead run. From there, the next four consecutive batters had hits, sending four more runs across the plate. Knepper had another double, and later scored by executing a perfect double steal, in concert with Garceau.
Freshman center fielder Bekah Kastning drove in the last run of the season with a triple to center, scoring Garceau. Earlier in the game, Kastning sent a line shot over right field for her fifth home run of the season, at the time, giving the Chargers a 3-2 lead.
Kastning became the first Hillsdale College player in 19 years to produce at least five home runs and five doubles int he same season, and she's the first freshman in school history to hit both of those marks. She wrapped up an impressive first season in Charger blue by going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and seven total bases.
Sophomore Sarah Grunert had a double among her two hits. She was also the winning pitcher in game one, giving her nine victories on the season.
Sophomore Sarah Klopfer turned in one of her most efficient pitching performances of the season, picking up her seventh win with eight strikeouts and no walks allowed. She cosistently got ahead in the count against hitters all game. Klopfer had 68 strikes among her 96 pitches in the game.
Prior to the game, the team honored its two graduating players (pictured) Emily Pillivant and Kristi Gordon.