MARCH 9 RECAP
Box score - Hillsdale 7, MSU-Mankato 6 (9 inn.)
Box Score - West Va. Wesleyan 6, Hillsdale 2
The Chargers rallied in dramatic fashion Monday night to defeat Minnesota State-Mankato 7-6 in a nine-inning contest in Florida.
Hillsdale lost the second game of the evening, 6-2, to West Virginia Wesleyan.
In the 7-6 win over the Mavericks, Hillsdale scored twice in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4. The game remained scoreless untli the top of the ninth, when two of the team's best hitter stepped up in clutch situations.
Sophomore Bekah Kastning, who did not start the game, stepped up in a pinch-hitting role with a double that scored senior Melissa Felkey to make the game 5-4. Two batters later, junior Sarah Grunert launched a two-run home run to make the score 7-4.
Mankato responded with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but freshman Danielle Stiene got the third out of the game, clinching the win.
Sophomore Kelli Eddie had a double, two hits, a run scored and a run batted in for the Chargers. Felkey had a hit, a run batted in and a run scored, while Grunert went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Stiene had 9 strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
MARCH 8 RECAP
Box Score - Quincy 9, Hillsdale 5
Box Score - Indiana (Pa.) 5, Hillsdale 3
The Charger softball team suffered a pair of frustrating losses Sunday evening in Florida, losing to Quincy 9-5 and Indiana (Pa.) 5-3.
Three different players - Jessica Taylor, Kate Ardrey and Ainsley Ellison - each had two hits in the 9-5 loss to the Hawks in the early game Sunday. Ellison brought in two runs while Ardrey had a double and a run batted in. Bekah Kastning scored twice and had a hit.
Indiana (Pa.) scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a come-from-behind win over the Chargers. Hillsdale committed four errors and fell victim to some excellent defensive plays by the Crimson Hawks.
Freshman Haley Lawrence hit her first career home run for Hillsdale, while Kastning, Ellison and Sarah Grunert each had two hits. Freshman Kelsey Gockman picked up a double for the Chargers.
MARCH 7 RECAP
Less than 24 hours after retreating from Michigan's cold into Florida's warmth, the Hillsdale College softball team notched its first win of the season, over an excellent opponent.
Freshman pitcher Danielle Stiene tossed a two-hit shutout to record her first collegiate victory in a 2-0 win over the University of Southern Indiana Saturday afternoon. USI had won its first eight games of the season, but fell into the loss column for the first time, thanks to the Chargers. Hillsdale is now 1-2 on the season.
Stiene struck out six batters in shutting out the Screaming Eagles. She got some run support from her catcher and namesake, junior Danielle Garceau.
Garceau provided a crucial second run in the seventh inning when she brought home pinch-runner Jessie Fox. Julia Kosco drew a walk, then Fox went in for her, who came around to score.
Hillsdale opened the scoring with some timely hitting and clever baserunning. Junior Ainsley Ellison got the rally started with a hit, and she later stole home to open the scoring. She was advanced on the basepaths thanks to a bunt single from senior Melissa Felkey.
Sophomore Bekah Kastning went 2-for-4 with a double in the win for Hillsdale.