A spring break trip South looks like it was just what the doctor ordered for the Hillsdale College softball team's offense.
Less than 24 hours after hitting four home runs in a doubleheader sweep of Augusta, the Chargers rolled past host Erskine with 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Fleet to improve to 10-9 overall.
In the opener, Hillsdale tied its season high with 13 hits to roll past Erskine 12-4. The Chargers trailed 4-2 after four innings but tied the game in the top of the fifth with RBI singles by Madison Stoner and Jenna Cantalupo, then took the lead for good on a two-run home run by Sam Catron in the top of the sixth inning.
Stoner added another RBI single in the sixth, and Renee Bielawa chipped in a RBI single and Natalie Stepanenko added a two-run single to help the Chargers put the game away.
Bielawa went 3 for 5 at the plate, Madison Rathbun added a RBI double and Elaine Townley chipped a RBI single as well.
Dana Weidinger picked up her eighth win of the season on the mound for the Chargers, striking out six and walking two in five innings of work, and Camryn Olson pitched two innings of no-hit baseball in relief with three strikeouts as well.
Hillsdale staged another comeback in the nightcap, as Bielawa and Catron each hit a two-run home run to help turn a 7-3 deficit after four complete innings into a 9-7 victory.
After Catron and Bielawa tied the game with their blasts, Stepanenko scored the winning run in the top of the sixth with a RBI single that drove in Townley. Rathbun added an insurance run on an RBI single in the top of the seventh.
Erin Kapteyn earned the win in relief to improve to 2-1 on the season, striking out one and giving up no hits in three innings of work. Julia Sayles got the start for the Chargers, striking out one and walking two in three innings, and Olson pitched an inning of relief as well.
Catron went 2 for 5 with a RBI double to go with the home run to lead the Chargers at the plate, and McKenna Eichholz finished 2 for 2 as well for Hillsdale.
The Chargers have now won four straight and will look to finish its spring break trip strong with a three game series in St. Augustine, Florida against Flagler, beginning on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Photo by Kasidy Carson