The Hillsdale College softball team is off to a hot start in conference play, with a 5-1 record that ranks among the top teams in the G-MAC so far.
Senior third baseman Elaine Townley has been equally impressive to date, and her strong showing last week helped her earn recognition from the G-MAC office.
Townley was named the G-MAC Softball Position Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, her first time earning the honor in her four-year career at Hillsdale. She's also the first Charger position player to earn weekly conference recognition in 2022 (pitchers Erin Kapteyn and Joni Russell have received pitcher of the week honors).
It was near-impossible to get Townley out in four contests this past week, as the senior hit .750 with an .800 on-base percentage, including two doubles and three RBIs. None of her hits were bigger than her final one of the weekend, as Townley hit a walk-off single to score Olivia Latimer in a 10-9 win over visiting Cedarville that helped the Chargers finish the week 3-1. Townley also went a combined 4 for 4 in two victories over Tiffin on Wednesday, reaching base in every opportunity at the plate she had in both contests.
Defensively, Townley also shined last week, recording 10 put-outs and two assists with zero errors in all four contests she played in. For the season, the Carnation, Washington native is hitting a career-best .323 with seven doubles, nine RBIs and four stolen bases, and is on track to have the best season of her career in several categories.
A three-year starter, Townley has been a stalwart at third base throughout her career, and also an outstanding student in the classroom, receiving CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2021. Townley has gone through the USMC Officer Candidates School and plans to join the Marines following her graduation and the end of her senior season.
The Chargers, however, hope to put off Townley's entry into the Marines for as long as possible by putting together another G-MAC run and reaching the NCAA Tournament. Hillsdale (15-17 overall, 5-1 G-MAC) has three doubleheaders lined up for this weekend -- at home against Davenport on Thursday, and then away at Malone on Saturday and at Walsh on Sunday, as they look to continue building momentum towards critical tournaments in May.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan