Box score: Texas A&M-Commerce 6, Hillsdale 2
Box score: California (Pa.) 3, Hillsdale 0
The 2017 season opened earlier than any other for the Hillsdale College softball program. The Chargers were invited to the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic, being held this weekend in Clearwater, Florida.
The event is full of teams worthy of national rankings. The Chargers ran into two of them on Friday's first day, losing 6-2 to Texas A&M-Commerce and 3-0 to California (Pa.).
In the first game against the Lions, freshman Victoria Addis made a quick transition from swimming season, picking up an RBI single in her second collegiate at bat.
Senior Bekah Kastning went 2-for-4 and scored the team's first run of the season, off Addis' single. Sophomore Amanda Marra had a hit and a run batted in, while sophomore Katie Kish tripled and scored a run.
Th second game saw just one total run scored over the game's first 5 1/2 innings. Freshman pitcher Dana Wedinger had a strong collegiate debut, striking out six batters while not allowing a walk. One of the three runs she allowed was unearned.
Vulcan pitching held the Chargers to just five hits in the game.
Freshman Shelby Sprouse also made her college debut, and was an impressive 2-for-3 with a double. Addis and Kish each had hits for the second consecutive game for Hillsdale.