After a tough first day at the plate to open the season on Friday, the Hillsdale College softball came back with a vengeance on Saturday, pounding out 13 runs to get split contests with host Tusculum and Lees-McRae on the final day of the Tusculum Round Robin.
In just her second game as a Charger, freshman Taylor Lewis made her presence felt in a big way in the first game against Tusculum on Saturday, driving in four runs in a 10-2 victory. After Olivia Latimer and Jenna Cantalupo walked to start the game, Lewis opened the scoring for the Chargers in the top of the first inning with a three-run home run that gave Hillsdale its first multi-run lead of the weekeend.
Lewis added another RBI hit in the fifth, a double to score Katie Matzat and put the Chargers up 5-0 just after Latimer stole home on a perfectly executed double steal with Emma Sather to give Hillsdale a four-run lead. Junior Grace Wallner added a RBI single later in the inning, and the Chargers would tag on three more runs in the top of the sixth on a RBI single by Emma Sather and a two-run single by junior McKenna Eichholz.
Ashley Strick hit a home run in the seventh inning as well to cap a 10-2 victory for the Chargers.
Latimer was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate for Hillsdale, and Eichholz, Lewis and Sather each chipped in two hits as well for the Chargers. Hillsdale showcased its speed on the basepaths in the victory by stealing seven bases, including three by Latimer.
Erin Kapteyn earned the complete-game victory on the mound for the Chargers, striking out two and walking one in seven innings while giving up just four hits and two earned runs.
Hillsdale carried momentum into the nightcap against Lees-McRae, matching an early home run by the Bobcats in the bottom of the first with a solo shot by Eichholz in the top of the second to tie the game at one apiece. But Hillsdale couldn't overcome a four-run inning by Lees-McRae in the bottom of the second that led to a 5-3 Bobcats victory.
Lewis got a RBI single in the top of the third inning to cut into the deficit, and Wallner added another RBI single in the top of the fifth inning, but Hillsdale couldn't score with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth, and couldn't drive Hailey Holtman in after a double by the junior in the top of the seventh.
Eichholz added a double to her home run and Waller finished with two hits as well to lead the Chargers at the plate in the loss. Sophomore Joni Russell (0-1) took the loss on the mound, bouncing back from a rough second inning to strike out eight and walk three in five innings of work. Emma Vis pitched a scoreless sixth inning as well for the Chargers.
Hillsdale (1-3) has the next weekend off to regroup and get back to work in practice, preparing for tough games in the NFCA Leadoff Classic down in Columbus, Georgia, beginning on Feb. 24.
Photo Courtesy of Tusculum Athletics