In just her second season in the circle for the Hillsdale College softball team sophomore pitcher Joni Russell has become a dominant force for the Chargers.
The G-MAC is well aware of the fact, making Russell the G-MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season and the fourth time in her career on Monday afternoon after another impressive weekend.
Russell pitched back-to-back shutouts for the Chargers in 2-0 victories over both Cedarville on Thursday and Walsh on Sunday, picking up the ninth and 10th wins of her season to date in the process. The sophomore had more strikeouts (15) combined in the two games than baserunners allowed (eight), with just one walk issued in 14 scoreless innings of work.
The Cable, Ohio native made a big splash as a freshman ace for the Chargers in 2022, winning 14 games, striking out 160 batters, and earing first-team All-G-MAC honors. But her sophomore year has been significantly more impressive still, as with 134 strikeouts in 18 appearances through Sunday, she's nearly equalled that total of 160 strikeouts set in 28 appearances in 2022, and her ERA of 0.72 is the lowest in the G-MAC and would be the second-lowest in Chargers history if she can maintain it through the end of the season.
Russell is also making a mark on Hillsdale's career record book, as her 294 career strikeouts rank eighth all-time in Chargers history and her 24 wins are tied for 10th with more than two full seasons of eligibility still remaining.
The sophomore will play a big role as Hillsdale looks to compete for another G-MAC title against a tough set of contenders over the final month of the season, starting with a doubleheader against Malone on Saturday, April 8 at home.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan