SCHEDULE:
Lake Erie (4-10) at Hillsdale College (10-16) | 3 P.M. ET Friday, March 25 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
Lake Erie (4-10) at Hillsdale College (10-16) | 5 P.M. ET Friday, March 25 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
Hillsdale College (10-16) at Tiffin (11-15) | 1 P.M. ET Saturday, March 26 | Tiffin, OH – Paradiso Athletic Fields
Hillsdale College (10-16) at Tiffin (11-15) | 3 P.M. ET Saturday, March 26 | Tiffin, OH – Paradiso Athletic Fields
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Outlook:
The Hillsdale College softball team had a productive from March 12-19 going 7-5 and starting to turn the corner offensively after a challenging start.
Now, the Chargers look to carry that momentum into conference play as it opens the G-MAC calendar this weekend with its first home doubleheader of 2022 against Lake Erie on Friday and a short trip to Tiffin on Saturday.
The Storm (4-10) finished 11th in conference play in 2021 but look somewhat improved from last season, particularly on the mound. Junior starting pitchers Grace Hammer and Carly Rowland both have solid strikeout to walk ratios and respectable ERAs in 13 combined starts, with Hammer posting a 3.94 ERA and 3-4 record, and Rowland posting a 3.23 ERA.
The two pitchers have kept Lake Erie competitive despite offensive struggles. The Storm are hitting just .202 as a team with 11 total extra-base hits in 14 games. Freshman utility player CJ Garcia leads the Storm with a .257 average and a team-high seven RBIs, while fellow freshman Tymarie Hutchinson also has been impressive with a .417 average and two doubles.
Tiffin, meanwhile, finished fourth in the G-MAC last season and have held up well against a tough early schedule, entering the weekend at 11-15 overall. Much like Lake Erie, solid pitching has been critical for the Dragons this season, as sophomore ace Claire Feldkamp has gone 8-5 in 17 appearances, with a 3.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts to 33 walks. Senior Sarah Klein also has made 10 starts with decent results as well for the Dragons.
Offense has been an area of inconsistency for Tiffin so far, as the Dragons have had their moments but are still hitting just .234 for the season entering Saturday's contest. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Whalen is off to an impressive start, hitting .390 for the Dragons, while senior catcher Kaylee Savage leads Tiffin in extra-base hits (eight) and RBIs (16) so far. Sophomore infielder Maddie Woods has also been solid early, with a .282 average, six doubles and 15 RBIs.
Hillsdale is in a much better place offensively coming back from Florida, having begun to hit for power and drive in runs after struggling to do either early in the season. Two seniors – catcher Madison Stoner and utility player Madison Rathbun – lead the Charger offense. Rathbun has hit .377 so far with 14 RBIs and four doubles, while Stoner is hitting .301 with three doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs. Junior utility player Jenna Cantalupo also has played well in the early going, hitting .321 with 11 RBIs as well.
If Hillsdale can get the offense going, it has shown the pitching so far to be a contender. Freshman Joni Russell won G-MAC Pitcher of the week honors after an impressive showing in Florida and has five victories in her first five starts with 61 strikeouts and a 2.52 ERA. She's the second pitcher to earn G-MAC Pitcher of the Week honors in 2022 for the Chargers, and sophomore Erin Kapteyn has also been impressive, with a 2.53 ERA, 38 strikeouts and four wins in nine appearances. Senior Camryn Olson is a veteran presence as a starter and reliever for the Chargers as well, while freshmen Dani Deaton and Emma Vis both have shown promise in their early appearances.
The Chargers swept both Tiffin and Lake Erie last season on the way to a runner-up finish in G-MAC play. A strong start this weekend would be a boon for the Chargers as they hope to contend for their first-ever regular season crown since joining the G-MAC for the 2018 season.