Schedule
Malone (8-16, 2-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-14, 6-2 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Malone (8-16, 2-6 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (19-14, 6-2 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale College (19-14, 6-2 G-MAC) at Davenport (9-16, 4-2 GLIAC) | 1 p.m. Monday, April 10 | Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex – Caledonia, Michigan
Hillsdale College (19-14, 6-2 G-MAC) at Davenport (9-16, 4-2 GLIAC) | 3 p.m. Monday, April 10 | Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex – Caledonia, Michigan
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Malone Roster | Davenport Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Malone Stats | Davenport Stats | Live Stats and Video Links
Outlook
Two splits over the weekend against Cedarville and Walsh still have Hillsdale in a decent position at 6-2 in conference play, but have narrowed the Chargers' margin for error in G-MAC play heading into a Saturday doubleheader at home against Malone.
At 8-16 overall, 2-6 in the G-MAC, Malone already has one more win this season than it did in all of 2022, and is hoping to pick up a few wins over the next couple of weeks to contend for the eighth and final spot in the season-ending G-MAC Tournament.
The Pioneers have made improvements this season thanks to solid pitching performances. Both of Malone's starters, Elizabeth Dyke (3.55 ERA) and Jensen Miller (3.99 ERA) have kept walks down and put up respectable numbers in their second seasons starting in the circle for the Pioneers, helping Malone to stay competitive in many contests.
Malone is hoping that its bats will take a leap to match its pitching in the next few weeks, as the Pioneers currently rank 11th in the G-MAC and are hitting just .248. Junior Taylor Kern has been the Pioneers' top hitter with a .301 average and eight extra-base hits, both tops on the team, as well as 10 RBIs. Karlie Duvall, Halyn Cawthore and Madi Pukansky all have double-digit RBIs as well for Malone.
Hillsdale comes back from the Easter holiday on Monday next week with a trip to Davenport for the program's final non-conference doubleheader of 2023. An above-.500 team in 2022, the Panthers struggled to start the season and sit at 9-16 entering this weekend, though Davenport is playing better recently and are off to a 4-2 start in GLIAC play.
Davenport boasts a solid offense, led by senior two-sport athlete Hayley Krieger, a DII volleyball All-American who's made a successful transition to softball and is hitting .325 with a team-high 19 RBIs and seven extra base hits. Returning starter Gabby Palazzolo and new catcher Kaycee Lohr are also hitting above .300 for the Panthers.
On the mound, Davenport starts Malone transfer Kelsey Byers, a one-time G-MAC Pitcher of the Year, and returning starter Emma Miller. Both have had up-and-down seasons in 2023, with a combined 6-12 record and ERAs above 4, but both had solid starts against Ferris State this weekend and have the talent to pose trouble for opposing hitters.
For the Chargers, everything starts with an excellent pitching staff. Hillsdale's 2.10 staff ERA ranks second among G-MAC teams, behind only preseason favorite Trevecca Nazarene. Hillsdale has gotten great pitching from sophomore Joni Russell, whose 10-4 record belies a G-MAC best 0.72 ERA and a 134 to 24 strikeouts to walks ratio. At her current strikeout pace, Russell has a real chance of challenging the single-season record of 216 set by Danielle Stiene in 2015. Hillsdale has an excellent #2 pitcher in Erin Kapteyn, an All-G-MAC player in 2022, who has a 6-5 record but a 2.55 ERA and threw the Chargers' first no-hitter since 2012 on March 11 against Queens (NY).
The challenge for Hillsdale over the next months is getting the most out of a lineup with just two every-day regulars from the 2022 season back for 2023. Junior Hailey Holtman, one of the two, is off to a great start, averaging .326 with 12 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. Sophomore Emma Vis is also having a breakout season, hitting .358 with 11 extra base hits and 11 RBIs, and junior Grace Wallner is hitting .322 with 18 RBIs as well. But as a team, the Chargers rank just ninth in the G-MAC with a .260 batting average, and more consistency up and down the lineup is necessary to turn close games into critical victories in a tight title race.
Hillsdale is 14-1 all-time against Malone, but the one loss is recent – a split with the Pioneers the last time Malone played at Hillsdale in 2021. Against Davenport, the Chargers are 2-1 in three meetings, including a sweep of the Panthers at Hillsdale in 2022.