The Hillsdale College softball team ran into one of the elite teams in all of NCAA Division II In the first round of regional play Thursday afternoon.
The Chargers lost an opening round game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, 6-1, to host Grand Valley State University in Allendale. The Chargers, 23-27 overall will now play an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Friday against the loser of the Southern Indiana-Wayne State matchup. GVSU, ranked 7th in Division II, improves to 45-8 on the season.
GVSU pitcher Allison Lipovsky, one of the very best pitchers in the country, controlled the red-hot Charger bats, limiting Hillsdale to four hits while allowing one walk in the victory.
Junior Victoria Addis, named the G-MAC Player of the Week last week, made her mark by hitting a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to account for the Chargers' only run of the game. It was the third home run of the postseason for Addis, who is showing impressive power at the most key part of the season.
Senior outfielder Katie Kish singled in each of her first two at bats in the game, giving her a career-high 66 total hits on the season. Senior Jessica Taylor picked up a single while junior sam Catron drew a walk.
Freshman pitcher Camryn Olson did a nice job in relief, pitching 2.2 innings with a run allowed. She retired six of the first seven batters she faced.
GVSU outhit Hillsdale 10-4 in the contest.