Game 1 box score: Hillsdale 7, Saginaw Valley State 3
Game 2 box score: Hillsdale 3, Saginaw Valley State 2
The Charger softball team is putting more and more of the GLIAC in its rear view mirror.
Just one day after securing a rare doubleheader sweep at Ferris State, Hillsdale took down rival Saginaw Valley State 7-3 and 3-2 in front of a big, sun-drenched crowd at Johnny Williams Field Saturday afternoon. The wins pushed Hillsdale's winning streak up to nine and gave it an overall record of 20-6, and 15-3 in the GLIAC.
Sunday, the program will celebrate its five-member senior class in a pre-game ceremony before hosting first-place and 13th-ranked Wayne State University starting at noon.
Starting pitcher Sarah Grunert improved to 11-2 on the season, recording a season-high seven strikeouts against the team that ended Hillsdale's 2015 season in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals. Grunert helped break open a close game with a bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning, capping a four-run frame that gave Hillsdale the cushion it needed to sew up the win.
Seven different players each had one hit in the game one victory for Hillsdale.
Sophomore Haley Lawrence belted a two-run home run in the second inning of game two to give the Chargers an important lead early in the game.
Junior Bekah Kastning ran her hitting streak to 19 games in the win, picking up a single and scoring a run. Her hitting streak is the longest for any Hillsdale College softball player in at least 18 years, or as far back as game-by-game records go.
Senior Sarah Klopfer won her fifth straight decision, going all seven innings with four strikeouts and just one earned run allowed. Klopfer, now 9-4 on the season, has permitted just two earned runs over her last 25 innings pitched, a span covering four starts, all wins.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kadie Lowery