THe Hillsdale College softball team rallied from a tough loss to split with fellow G-MAC title contender Trevecca Nazarene on the road on Friday afternoon, taking the nightcap 3-1 to remain tied with the Trojans in the conference standings in terms of losses.
A split was a fair outcome for an even, well-played doubleheader that saw both teams plate exactly three runs in the two contests, as Hillsdale fell 2-0 to the Trojans in the first game before finding themselves offensively in the second contest.
In the nightcap, Hillsdale finished with seven hits but were able to string five of them together in the top of the third inning to power a game-winning offensive outburst.
Freshman second baseman Taylor Lewis set the tone for the inning in the first at-bat, smashing a home run down the left field line to put the Chargers up 1-0 and give Hillsdale its first lead of the day.
Junior McKenna Eichholz followed up that home run with a double, and sophomore Ashley Strick added a bunt single to move her over to third, allowing the Chargers to plate a second run on a fielding error by the Trojans on the next play.
Senior Jenna Cantalupo capped the Chargers' scoring with a single through the left side for Hillsdale third and final run of the inning.
Those three runs would prove to be enough for the Chargers thanks to an impressive pitching performance by junior Erin Kapteyn, who tamed a ferocious Trevecca offense in a complete-game effort for her eighth win of the season. Kapteyn struck out seven, walked one, scattered four hits and allowed just one earned run late, when the junior induced a sacrifice fly to center field in a situation where Hillsdale was more than happy to trade a run for an out up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Eichholz finished 2 for 3 with two doubles to lead the Chargers at the plate, while Emma Vis chipped in a double as well for Hillsdale.
Hillsdale had a solid game in the circle in the first contest as well, holding the Trojans to just two runs on seven hits, but struggled to generate offense in a shutout loss. The Chargers finished with just three hits in the contest, posing their biggest threat in the top of the sixth inning, when freshman Maggie Olaveson and junior Hailey Holtman each singled to bring the go ahead run to the plate. But with two outs, Hillsdale just couldn't capitalize, and a solo home run in the first inning and an insurance run in the fourth held up for the Trojans.
Sophomore Joni Russell took the loss for Hillsdale, striking out six and walking none while giving up six hits and two earned runs in four innings pitched. Vis was solid in relief for Hillsdale, giving up just one hit in two scoreless innings to finish out the game.
Hillsdale is now 23-16 overall, 9-3 in G-MAC play, and is in a three-way tie for third in the conference with Findlay and Cedarville. Trevecca also has three losses but has two games in hand over those three squads at 11-3, while Ohio Dominican remains unbeaten atop the league at 8-0 but with at least four more G-MAC contests to play than all the other contenders.
The Chargers next head to Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, seeking a much-needed sweep and hoping to avoid getting caught in a trap game by the 0-14 Panthers.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan