The story of the season for the Hillsdale College softball team has been a dominant pitching staff that helped the Chargers to a runner-up finish in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and a third-straight 30-plus win season.
As the G-MAC announces its end of season awards in softball, it's clear that the Chargers' pitching strength has not gone unnoticed.
Both of Hillsdale starting pitchers, sophomore Joni Russell and junior Erin Kapteyn, have received repeat All-G-MAC honors, and Russell has become the first Hillsdale College softball player since the Chargers joined the G-MAC in 2018 to receive a major conference award, earning G-MAC Pitcher of the Year honors.
Russell is Hillsdale's lone first team honoree, while Kapteyn receives second team honors along with junior catcher McKenna Eichholz, who earns All-G-MAC honors for the first time. Sophomore catcher Hannah Hoverman also received third team honors as a designated player for Hillsdale, her first-ever All-G-MAC recognition.
The Pitcher of the Year award is the latest in a historic season for Russell, who's already set two school records and put up numbers that stand up with the best in the nation at the NCAA DII level. Her 224 strikeouts are a Hillsdale College school record, surpassing the mark of 216 set by Danielle Stiene in 2015, and her 19 strikeout effort against Malone in a shutout victory on April 8 broke a single-game record set by Sarah DeAngelo on April 11, 2001.
For the season, Russell has a 16-6 record and a microscopic 0.71 ERA. Both her ERA and strikeouts lead the G-MAC in 2023, and her ERA ranks sixth nationally at the NCAA DII level and her strikeout total ranks eighth. Opposing batters are hitting just .169 against her and she's given up just 16 earned runs in 26 appearances in 2023.
Just halfway through her career at Hillsdale, Russell is leaving a historic mark on the program. Her 384 strikeouts through two seasons rank third all-time at Hillsdale, and with decent health she should surpass DeAngelo's career total of 474 next year. Her 30 career wins rank ninth at Hillsdale, and her 10 shutouts are tied for fourth.
While Russell has been making history for the Chargers, Kapteyn has simultaneously also been making a strong case as a top 10 pitcher all-time at Hillsdale, and giving the Chargers undoubtedly the best one-two punch on the mound in the G-MAC.
This is Kapteyn's second straight second team All-G-MAC honor, and Hillsdale is the only team in the conference with two pure pitchers on the first and second teams for the second straight season.
Kapteyn has been excellent for the Chargers this season, posting a 12-7 record and ranking fourth in the G-MAC among pitchers with a 1.85 ERA and five shutouts. Her .219 batting average against is also the fourth-best mark in the G-MAC.
The junior has thrived the past two seasons for the Chargers, recording Hillsdale's first no-hitter in over a decade against Queens (NY) on March 11 and recording several key victories. She's also making her mark in terms of career numbers – her seven career shutouts are tied for ninth most in Hillsdale history, and her 27 career wins to date rank 10th.
Combined, Russell and Kapteyn, along with relief pitchers Emma Vis and Mackenzi Maxson, have posted a 1.75 ERA, a number that, if held through the postseason, would be a G-MAC record and the fifth lowest in Hillsdale history. The Chargers pitching staff also has set a new single-season team strikeouts record with 328 so far.
Along with Hillsdale's two dominant pitchers, two position players also earned major recognition from the G-MAC.
In her first full season as an every-day starter, catcher McKenna Eichholz earned second team honors. Eichholz has been on an absolute tear in conference play, hitting .429 against G-MAC opponents with five doubles, one home run and 11 RBIs.
For the season. Eichholz has been a two-way star for Hillsdale, hitting .306 with eight doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs, while also stealing four bases, posting a perfect fielding percentage at her position, and throwing out eight of the 20 runners who tried to steal on her.
Eichholz's counterpart behind the plate, sophomore Hannah Hoverman, also earned third team All-G-MAC recognition. Hoverman, who splits catching duties with Eichholz and also plays as the designated player for Hillsdale, earned recognition for the Chargers for her work at the plate as DP.
The Perrysburg, Ohio native also has been a fearsome hitter for the Chargers in G-MAC play, batting .367 and leading Hillsdale against G-MAC foes in doubles (eight), home runs (three) and RBIs (15). While Hoverman was recognized for her offensive prowess, she's no slouch behind the plate either, posting a perfect fielding percentage at catcher as well, and throwing out six of the 15 baserunners who've tried to steal on her.
With individual accolades received, Hillsdale (31-18) now looks to make a run at a team trophy this week in the G-MAC Tournament. The Chargers are the second seed and open play against seventh seeded Ashland at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Anderson Field in Findlay, Ohio.