Game 1 box score: Hillsdale 11, Saginaw Valley State 3
Game 2 box score: Saginaw Valley State 9, Hillsdale 4
Although the Hillsdale College softball team's six game winning streak came to an end in the second half of Sunday's doubleheader at Saginaw Valley State, there's no question the Chargers had a successful weekend on the road.
Hillsdale used a second-inning explosion to beat the conference-leading Cardinals 11-3 in the first game before losing the nightcap 9-4. The Chargers are 18-17 overall and 8-4 in the GLIAC, sitting in second place, one game behind the Cardinals (22-9, 9-3).
The team's nine run second inning had the feel of a surreal event after a while. After loading the bases with no outs, Haley Lawrence and Katie Kish scored on back-to-back throwing errors. Cassie Asselta, the GLIAC's leader in hit by pitches, drew another HBP with the bases loaded, driving in a run the hard way making the score 3-0.
Freshman Sydney San Juan sliced a single up the middle scoring Jessica Taylor to make it 4-0. Senior Bekah Kastning followed with a two-run single, then Amanda Marra's bunt single, coupled with another error, brought two more home. The scoring ended with a sacrifice fly by Lawrence, bringing San Juan across home plate for the second time in the frame.
Freshman Alexis Newby didn't get the win, but threw three shutout innings in her best performance on the mound in her young career for the Chargers in her start. Freshman Dana Weidinger notched her 14th win of the season in four innings of relief work.
Kastning and San Juan each went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Lawrence had 2 RBI and sophomore Carly Gouge scored two runs, had a hit and a run batted in.
Hillsdale jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two, when Katie Kish's bunt single scored Kastning right after Asselta scored off a Cardinal error.
However, SVSU came back for a six-run third inning to take the lead for good. The Cardinals outhit the Chargers 13-5 in the nightcap.
Kastning was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Kish wrapped up an outstanding weekend by going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.