Schedule
Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) at Trevecca Nazarene (26-10, 10-2 GMAC) | 3 p.m. ET Friday, April 14 | Trojan Softball Complex – Nashville, Tennessee
Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) at Trevecca Nazarene (26-10, 10-2 GMAC) | 5 p.m. ET Friday, April 14 | Trojan Softball Complex – Nashville, Tennessee
Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) at Kentucky Wesleyan (9-34, 0-14 GMAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, April 15 | Foster Field – Owensboro, Kentucky
Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) at Kentucky Wesleyan (9-34, 0-14 GMAC) | 3 p.m. ET Saturday, April 15 | Foster Field – Owensboro, Kentucky
Northwood (24-15, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Northwood (24-15, 8-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (22-15, 8-2 G-MAC) | 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Trevecca Roster | KWC Roster | Northwood Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Trevecca Stats | KWC Stats | Northwood Stats | Live Stats and Video Links
Outlook
The Chargers went 3-1 and 2-0 in the G-MAC over Easter weekend thanks to standout pitching, and now head into another critical long weekend in conference play that includes two doubleheaders against top six teams in the G-MAC.
Hillsdale opens up the weekend on Friday in Nashville with a huge doubleheader against Trevecca Nazarene, the preseason G-MAC title favorite, and, at 10-2, currently in second place in league play. The Trojans have an impressive pitching staff that can go toe-to-toe with the Chargers at the very top of the G-MAC in that regard, with a current staff ERA of 1.65.
Sophomore Ashlan Sensing is indisputably one of the top three pitchers in the G-MAC this season, and has a case to be the best, with a 12-6 record in 22 appearances, 130 strikeouts to 10 walks and a 1.27 ERA. Trevecca also has one of the best No. 2 pitchers in the league, Alex Behnke, is also 10-4 with a 2.31 ERA as well. If either Sensing or Behnke run into trouble, the Trojans have two strong relievers, Brianna Asmondy and Rylee Veron, who both have ERAs under 3 to fall back on.
Trevecca is also strong at the plate, as returning All-G-MAC players Anna Bennett and Kendall Andrews are both hitting over .400 with a combined 40 extra base hits and 59 RBIs between them. Returning infielders Carlie Sperlich and Malone Thrift also are playing well. To an already dangerous lineup, the Trojans have added Lipscomb grad transfer Jessie Brown and talented freshmen Sarah Nicholson and Kyleigh Burgett.
Coming off that huge matchup, Hillsdale goes north the next day for a potential trap doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro. While the Panthers are winless in the G-MAC this season, Kentucky Wesleyan has had some close calls against both Trevecca Nazarene and Findlay, among others.
Junior Olney Central transfer Allie Dunn (6.59 ERA, 6-18 record) and sophomore Oakland City transfer Immi Mann (7.74 ERA, 3-15 record) are the starters in the circle for the Panthers, with freshman and hometown prospect Sydney Saalwaechter as an option in relief.
At the plate, freshman Megan Matheis has been impressive for the Panthers so far, with a .453 batting average, 10 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBIs, while returners August Garr and Grace Colvin are each hitting over .300 as well for KWC.
On Tuesday, Hillsdale returns home for its only midweek conference doubleheader of the season and a key matchup against another title contender, Northwood. A newcomer to the G-MAC in 2023 and the only other Michigan school in the conference, Northwood currently sits in sixth place, but at 8-4 in G-MAC play is still very much in the mix for the championship.
Pitching has been the key aspect of a 24-win season so far for the Timberwolves, led by senior ace Hailey Leister, another dominant pitcher of the year contender who has a 16-6 record, a 107 to 15 strikeouts to walks ratio, and a 1.21 ERA. Northwood has a number of solid arms to pair with Leister, including impressive freshman Brittani Mutter, sophomore starter Brynn Polega, and junior Emily Cox.
At the plate, veteran senior Hailey Frank continues to be the key hitter for the Timberwolves, with a .341 batting average, 16 extra base hits and 24 RBIs, but Northwood also is getting a lift from a talented freshman class including Delanie Gale, who's hitting .365 with a team-best 31 RBIs, and Ashley Ziel, who leads the team in home runs with six and is batting .395.
For Hillsdale, everything starts with an excellent pitching staff that gives the Chargers a chance in every game. Hillsdale's 2.05 staff ERA ranks second among G-MAC teams, behind only preseason favorite Trevecca Nazarene. Hillsdale has gotten great pitching from sophomore Joni Russell, whose 12-4 record includes a G-MAC best 0.76 ERA and a conference-leading 160 strikeouts. Russell set the program record for strikeouts in a single game with 19 against Malone last Saturday, and at her current strikeout pace, she has a real chance of challenging the single-season record of 216 set by Danielle Stiene in 2015. Hillsdale has an excellent #2 pitcher in Erin Kapteyn, an All-G-MAC player in 2022, who has a 7-6 record but a 2.21 ERA and threw the Chargers' first no-hitter since 2012 on March 11 against Queens (NY).
The challenge for Hillsdale as it looks to repeat as G-MAC regular season champions is getting the most out of a lineup with just two every-day regulars from the 2022 season back for 2023. Junior Hailey Holtman, one of the two, is off to a great start, averaging .313 with 13 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs on the leadoff position. Sophomore Emma Vis is also having a breakout season, hitting .354 with 11 extra base hits and 14 RBIs, and junior Grace Wallner is hitting .314 with a team-high 23 RBIs as well. But as a team, the Chargers rank just ninth in the G-MAC with a .267 batting average, and more consistency up and down the lineup is necessary to turn close games into critical victories in a tight title race.
The Chargers swept Trevecca Nazarene at home in the regular season last year, but lost a G-MAC Tournament opener to the Trojans in 2022. Both teams have a history of close games as regular title contenders since Hillsdale joined the conference in 2018. Against KWC, the Chargers are 11-0 all-time, including a home sweep of the Panthers last season. Hillsdale and Northwood were both founding members of the GLIAC and regular opponents in that league, but this is the first conference game between the two since Hillsdale made the switch to the G-MAC in 2018. The most recent meeting between the two teams came in 2021 in an NCAA Tournament elimination game, with Hillsdale pulling out a 3-1 victory to advance.