Game 1 box score: Hillsdale 7, Malone 4
Game 2 box score: Hillsdale 7, Malone 4
Victoria Addis had her best day as a collegiate softball player in helping to lead the Chargers to a much-needed sweep over Malone University on a sunny Friday afternoon at Johnny Williams Field.
The wins, each by identical 7-4 scores, make Hillsdale 15-11 overall and 9-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Addis, a sophomore outfielder, hit her first home run of the season in the second game as part of a monster day at the plate. In the two games, she was 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and five runs batted in, including a season-high four in the second game. She also scored three runs and swung the bat with purpose and power.
Her productivity was contagious, as Hillsdale hammered out 11 hits in each game. The team's 21 runs over its last three games are the most in any three-game span this season.
But that doesn't mean the team eased its way to these wins. It had to come from behind in each game. Once early, another time late.
Malone jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, putting Hillsdale in an immediate hole. But the Chargers came right back with three runs in the second. Freshman Natalie Walters crushed a double to to right-center field, scoring Kelsey Gockman. Addis followed one batter later with her first double of the day to put Hillsdale right back in the game.
The Chargers added three more runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Sophomore Sam Catron, freshman Emma Johnson and sophomore Sydney San Juan each had runs batted in during the frame to put the Chargers on top.
Junior Katie Kish upped her season batting average to .500 with a 3-for-4 performance in the opener. She also scored two runs. Junior Jessica Taylor, enjoying the best hitting season of her career, was 2-for-4 with a run scored while Gockman had a hit and a run scored.
Addis' home run in the fourth inning of game two gave Hillsdale a 2-0 lead. But the Pioneers got their bats going, scoring twice in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-2 lead. Freshman pitcher Erin Hunt, who went the distance for the win in game one, was called upon in game two and was able to get strikeouts to work her way out of jams.
Faced with a 4-2 deficit, Hillsdale showed heart and resiliency by pushing five runs across in the bottom of the sixth with another dazzling hitting performance. Gockman and Madison Stoner opened the inning with a single and a walk, respectively. Senior Haley Lawrence provided a big play with a successful sacrifice bunt, putting runners at second and third with one out. Addis then delivered a two-run single that tied the game at 4.
Three batters later, junior Amanda Marra knocked a double to deep left-center field, scoring Addis with what would turn out to be the game-winning run. Taylor followed with a two-run single up the middle that brought home Kish and Marra for some valuable insurance runs.
Taylor was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI as she keeps tearing up the ball at the plate. Marra was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in while Addis capped her day by going 3-for-3 with 4 RBI in the nightcap.
Hunt earned both wins in the game, improving her record to 11-4 on the season. She struck out five in 2 2/3 innings of relief work in the nightcap.