Game 1 box score: GVSU 9, HC 1 (5 innings)
Game 2 box score: GVSU 2, HC 0
Saturday morning, the Charger softball team honored its three beloved and respected seniors on the occasion of its final home game of the regular season.
Although Hillsdale lost both ends of the GLIAC doubleheader against Grand Valley State, the careers of seniors Jessica Day, Melissa Felkey and Kate Ardrey are not over.
Despite the losses, the Chargers, 23-21 overall and 14-12 in the GLIAC, clinched a spot in the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2012. Hillsdale's seeding will not be finalized until the completion of Findlay's game against Ferris State Sunday morning. The GLIAC Tournament takes place at Findlay May 1-3.
The race for the final postseason spots has been all over the place in the season's final week, with different teams pulling upsets, getting upset and shifting in the standings on an hour-to-hour basis. Hillsdale's loss at Lake Erie last week looked like it might be a season-killer, but the Charger sweep of Ferris State Friday turned out to be the life-saver it needed to continue its season.
Saturday, Grand Valley State defeated Hillsdale by scores of 9-1 and 2-0. The Chargers scratched out just three hits in the opener, but left nine runners stranded on base, unable to take full advantage of drawing a season-high eight walks in the contest. Sophomore Bekah Kastning drove in the team's only run.
Kastning went 3-for-3 in the nightcap, giving her 62 hits for the season. She became just the fifth player in school history to notch at least 60 hits in one season.
Freshman pitcher Danielle Stiene struck out seven more batters in the second game, giving her 191 for the season, second-most in school history.