SCHEDULE:
Hillsdale College (23-13, 11-3 G-MAC) at Ursuline (5-17, 5-5 G-MAC) | 1 p.m ET Saturday, April 24 | Ursuline Softball Field – Pepper Pike, Ohio | Live Stats | Watch
Hillsdale College (23-13, 11-3 G-MAC) at Ursuline (5-17, 5-5 G-MAC) | 1 p.m ET Saturday, April 24 | Ursuline Softball Field – Pepper Pike, Ohio | Live Stats | Watch
Ohio Valley (0-16, 0-12 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (23-13, 11-3 G-MAC) | 3 p.m ET Monday, April 26 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats
Ohio Valley (0-16, 0-12 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (23-13, 11-3 G-MAC) | 5 p.m ET Monday, April 26 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats
Outlook: A huge weekend that included a sweep of previous G-MAC leader Trevecca Nazarene on their home field has the Hillsdale College softball team leading the conference standings at 11-3 overall. It's the first time since joining the G-MAC in 2017 that the Chargers have been alone in first this late in the season.
Hillsdale looks to protect its spot atop the standings this weekend with a trip to play Ursuline on Saturday.
The Arrows are just 5-17 overall but 5-5 in G-MAC play and can insert themselves into the title race if they can upset the Chargers this weekend.
Freshman first baseman/outfielder Kiley Gallagher leads Ursuline in home runs (3) and RBIs (15), while senior first baseman Alyssa Baratta is batting .339 with 13 RBIs as well.
On the mound, six different pitchers have started for the Arrows this season, with Ashlee Zientek getting the most work, posting a 1-8 record with a 5.38 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 appearances and six starts. Tara Backherms also has six starters, with a 1-2 record and a 6.90 ERA. Nicole Rawlings has been Ursuline's most effective pitcher, with a 2-2 record in three starts, a team-best 4.03 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
After the weekend trip to Ohio, Hillsdale returns home to face Ohio Valley in a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday.
The Fighting Scots have had a difficult season and sit at 0-16 overall and 0-12 in the G-MAC.
Senior shortstop Alexandra Lidstone is hitting .243 at the plate to lead OVU, and sophomore outfielder Ashley Cooper is hitting .243 as well for the Scots. Junior outfielder Destinee Urea leads OVU in extra-base hits (5) and RBIs (5).
On the mound, senior Alyssa Gates and sophomore Bailey Garcia are the regular starters for the Scots, though Urea and senior Kassandra Bell have made starts as well for OVU.
Hillsdale is 23-13 on the year and seeks a third straight G-MAC tournament title and its first regular season crown.
With two-time G-MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week Dana Weidinger on the mound, Hillsdale has a chance in every contest, as Weidinger is 15-4 with a 2.22 ERA and 93 strikeouts to 26 walks this season. Junior Camryn Olson, freshman Erin Kapteyn and senior Julia Sayles give the Chargers solid options in the second game of doubleheaders.
At the plate, seniors Sam Catron and Madison Stoner are both having excellent seasons. Catron has 10 home runs, tying for third all-time in a single season in Charger history, and also is hitting .380 with a team-best 46 total hits, 31 RBIs and 13 doubles.
Stoner, meanwhile, has been on a tear at the plate, leading the Chargers in batting average (.436) and on-base percentage (.521) with seven doubles, a triple and six home runs. Stoner's slugging percentage, if maintained through the end of the season, would be the fourth-highest in a single season in program history.
Six Chargers in total are hitting above .300 for the season, including senior Natalie Stepanenko and junior Elaine Townley, who are tied for second on the team with 11 doubles each.