Playing for the third consecutive day, the Hillsdale College softball team ran into a tough roadblock Thursday afternoon in Ohio.
The Chargers had their four-game winning streak snapped in losses to nationally ranked Ashland by scores of 9-0 and 5-1. Hillsdale is 17-17 overall and 8-8 in the GLIAC, and will host the two Canton, Ohio schools at home this weekend.
In the opener, the Chargers managed just five hits, all of them singles, in the run-ruled game. Ashland scored twice in the first, three times in the second and four more times in the third inning, triggering the NCAA's mercy rule at the conclusion of the top of the fifth inning.
Game 2 was more competitive, thanks to the tough pitching by Charger junior Sarah Klopfer. She pitched all eight innings and held the Eagles to just one run before they scored four times in the top of the eighth.
Sophomore Bekah Kastning (pictured) went 3-for-4 and drove in the team's only run of the day in game 2. Klopfer and senior Melissa Felkey each went 2-for-4 in the nightcap.