This weekend, a young Hillsdale College softball team went down to Columbus, Georgia to play five games in the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic, against a tough slate of opponents that had all won at least 24 games in the 2022 season.
On Sunday, after play concluded, Hillsdale is returning home with a 3-2 record against those tough foes, and bolstered confidence that it can compete with quality opponents and win.
Hillsdale 8, Gannon 0 (5 innings)
Hillsdale opened the weekend with a dominant victory over Gannon on Friday morning. Chargers pitcher Joni Russell never gave the Golden Knights a chance in the game, striking out 11 of the 16 batters she faced with one walk and just one hit conceded.
That dominant performance meant that Hillsdale didn't need much offense to win the game, but the Chargers bats delivered, scoring eight runs on nine hits. Sophomore Emma Vis went 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Chargers, freshman Janie West went 2 for 3 with a double, and McKenna Eichholz added a double and two RBIs as well as Hillsdale ended the game early on a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning.
Cal (PA) 10, Hillsdale 2 (5 innings)
In the nightcap on Friday, Hillsdale never recovered from a tough start defensively, falling into a five run hole by the top of the third inning in a loss to the Vulcans.
Freshman Emma Sather got a run back for the Chargers in the bottom of the third with a RBI triple, and Hillsdale added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder's choice that scored Erin Kapteyn, but it was too little, too late to get back in the game.
Kapteyn took the loss on the mound for the Chargers, and Emma Vis, Mackenzi Maxson and Dani Deaton all pitched in relief as well for Hillsdale.
Hillsdale 4, Bridgeport 1
Another excellent start from pitcher Joni Russell and a huge game at the plate from Grace Wallner were enough to help the Chargers beat a Purple Knights squad bringing several players back from an NCAA Tournament team in 2022.
Russell was special again in a second straight start for Hillsdale, striking out 11 batters for the second straight game with two walks, and conceding just five hits and one unearned run.
Wallner gave Hillsdale the lead in the top of the second inning on a RBI single to score Hailey Holtman, and Holtman added another run in the top of the third on a RBI double to left center.
After Bridgeport cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third, Hillsdale pulled away in the fifth and sixth innings, capped by a solo home run from Wallner, who finished the contest 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. Holtman added two doubles and Jenna Cantalupo chipped in a triple for Hillsdale.
Charleston (WV) 11, Hillsdale 3 (5 innings)
A tough first inning that saw the Chargers give up seven runs, including three with two outs, to the Golden Eagles meant Hillsdale never really got into the contest.
The Chargers did their best to mount a comeback, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning on RBI singles from Ashley Strick and Emma Sather, but four more runs by Charleston in the fifth inning brought the game to an early end.
Jenna Cantalupo hit a double and a triple as well for the Chargers offensively, and Dani Deaton took the loss on the mound, with Emma Vis pitching in relief.
Hillsdale 5, Georgia Southwestern 1
The Chargers used a five run third inning and another dominant start from Russell to end the NFCA Leadoff Classic on a high note on Sunday.
Picking up her third win in as many days, Russell shut down the Hurricanes lineup, striking out 14 batters in seven innings while conceding just two hits, one walk and one earned run.
Hillsdale seized control in the third inning offensively, as Grace Wallner hit a three-run home run and Hannah Hoverman followed Wallner's blast with a solo home run of her own in the next at bat to give the Chargers a 5-0 lead at the time.
After a dominant weekend that included 36 strikeouts in three games and just eight hits and one earned run conceded, Joni Russell was honored with a spot on the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team.
A solid performance this weekend will give the Chargers confidence heading into a critical set of regional games in Illinois in the upcoming weekend. Hillsdale (4-5) travels to Springfield, Illinois for the UIS Classic and games against three GLVC programs, Illinois-Springfield, Quincy and McKendree, with a chance to pick up victories against Midwest Region foes that could be important when the NCAA Tournament field is selected at the end of the season.
Photo Courtesy of Dave Hines